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Former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook has announced his retirement from professional basketball. After an illustrious 18-season career in the "League of Aliens," where he amassed numerous individual accolades, the guard decided it was time to step away from the game. He made the announcement via a short film released on social media, featuring the voice of Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan.
The 37-year-old Westbrook played for the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first 11 seasons of his career, and also had stints with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and the Sacramento Kings, where he played last season. He was a free agent this summer but did not receive an offer from any of the 30 NBA teams.
In 2017, Westbrook was named the league's Most Valuable Player, and he also led the league in scoring twice, in 2015 and 2017. Furthermore, he finished four seasons averaging a triple-double.
His impressive resume also includes nine All-Star selections and nine All-NBA team selections, including two First Team honors.
Westbrook was selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, but he never played for the team as they relocated to Oklahoma City that same year.
With the U.S. national team, he earned a World Championship title in 2010 and an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
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