Russell Westbrook Announces Retirement Following 18 Seasons In NBA

August 12, 2026 11:17 PM ET The game of basketball just lost a great one.Russell Westbrook, an 18-year NBA veteran that competed for seven franchises during his time in the league, has announced his retirement. The icon made the announcement Wednesday on social media.“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” said Westbrook, 37, on his post, which featured a clip of his career with actor Michael B. Jordan narrating. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.” (RELATED: Teddy Bridgewater Retires, Lions Pivot To Joshua Dobbs For Backup Quarterback Duties)Over the offseason, Westbrook received offers from the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, but decided to retire from the NBA under his own terms, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who cited sources.Being named