Russell Westbrook is retiring from the NBA after 18 seasons, and he has received tons of praise for his stellar career.
After the announcement came on Wednesday, Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James, who was Westbrook’s teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers, sent a message on Westbrook’s Instagram account.
“HELLUVA CAREER BRODIE!! HOF next!!”
“HELLUVA CAREER BRODIE!! HOF next!!”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 12, 2026
— LeBron on Russell Westbrook’s retirement. 🙌🙏 pic.twitter.com/V6X6erR1PF
Russell Westbrook announced his retirement in a video on social media on Wednesday, one narrated by Michael B. Jordan.
Westbrook had been searching for a new team, and it was revealed that the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards had offered him a role before he decided to call it a career.
The Lakers acquired Westbrook in a trade with the Washington Wizards on the night of the 2021 NBA Draft. LA sent all of Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the No. 22 overall pick to Washington in exchange for Westbrook and two second-round picks.
Westbrook then played one full season with LA and played 52 games with the Lakers in 2022-23 before being traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team deal at the 2023 deadline.
Westbrook then spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings before calling it a career.
James might be right. Westbrook could very well be headed to the Hall of Fame. He is a nine-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA player, and he is also the league leader in all-time triple-doubles, so it was a stellar career for the former UCLA Bruins star.
