Russell Westbrook's NBA Legacy Lives On

Russell Westbrook's retirement marks the end of an era for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his legacy will live on in the NBA. The 37-year-old point guard announced his retirement on Wednesday, three months shy of his 38th birthday. Despite never winning a championship, Westbrook made nine All-NBA teams, won the Most Valuable Player award in 2017, and finished as the all-time leader with 209 triple-doubles.

What Happened?

Westbrook's record may not last much longer, as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has 198 triple-doubles. Jokic has averaged a triple-double in each of the past two seasons, so he should surpass Westbrook this season as long as he stays healthy. Still, that is not to diminish what Westbrook accomplished. During the 2016-17 season, Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 season to average a triple-double.

Why It Matters for Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook played alongside fellow future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and James Harden with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The trio led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games. The future looked bright, as Harden was 22 years old, while Westbrook and Durant were each 23. But that October, the Thunder traded Harden to the Houston Rockets. OKC finished first in its division in three of the next four seasons and made the Western Conference finals twice, but the Thunder didn't make it back to the league finals.

What Comes Next?

Westbrook spent last season with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game and starting in 58 of the 64 games he played. The Kings and Washington Wizards offered him contracts recently, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Instead, Westbrook chose to retire. Westbrook finished his NBA career with 27,176 points, more than any point guard in league history and 14th all-time among all players. He was also fifth all-time with 10,351 career assists and 24th with 1,301 regular season games played.

Recent Form

The Oklahoma City Thunder's recent form has been poor, with a recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs (103-111 on May 31, 2026) and a 1-4 record in their last five games (1W-0D-4L, lost the last 4). Last result: Oklahoma City Thunder 103-111 San Antonio Spurs (2026-05-31).