Russell Westbrook III[9] was born inLong Beach, California,[10][11] to Russell Westbrook Jr. and Shannon Horton. He has a younger brother named Raynard.[12] Growing up inHawthorne,[13][14][15] Westbrook and his best friend Khelcey Barrs III had hopes of going to UCLA and playing together.[16] At age 16, Barrs was already known to have excellent basketball skills and received college scholarship offers.[17] In May 2004, Barrs died from an enlarged heart during apick-up game.[18][19] After Barrs' death, Westbrook seemed even more determined to excel in honor of his best friend's memory.[17] Westbrook never fails to wear a "KB3" wristband in loving memory of his best friend.
High school career
Westbrook enteredLeuzinger High School as a point guard who stood only 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighed only 140 pounds (64 kg), although he did have large (size 14) feet. He did not start on his school's varsity team until his junior year,[19] and did not receive his first college recruiting letter until the summer before his senior year. Westbrook attained his adult height of 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) that same summer.[20][21]
During his senior year, Westbrook averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.3 assists and helped lead them to a 25–4 record. That same season, he recorded 14 double-doubles, scored 30 or more points on eight separate occasions, and registered a career-best 51 points at Carson on January 6, 2006. Westbrook initially did not attract much attention from top college basketball programs.[22] After his height increased, contributing to him averaging more than 25 points per game and becoming a solid college basketball prospect, coachBen Howland recruited him to play for theUCLA Bruins.[22] Westbrook declined other offers while waiting for the Bruins'Jordan Farmar toleave early for the NBA and free up ascholarship.[23][24]
Upon arriving at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, Westbrook's high school jersey number 4 was already taken byArron Afflalo, so Westbrook wore number 0 throughout his time at UCLA.[25] As a freshman in2006–07, he played as a backup toDarren Collison and was primarily used as a defender and energy player off the bench. Westbrook averaged 3.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on the year. During the off-season, he trained extensively, both in the weight room and in the gym, where he faced NBA veterans who visited Los Angeles.[26] Thenext season, Collison was injured and Westbrook was named the starter. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals. At the end of the year, he was namedAll-Pac-10 Third Team and won thePac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.[27]
UCLA advanced to theFinal Four during each of Westbrook's seasons with the team. In 2007, they lost to eventual national championFlorida, 76–66, and in 2008, they lost 78–63 toMemphis. After two years at UCLA, Westbrook decided to forgo his final two years and enter the2008 NBA draft.[28] He stayed in school and finished the quarter, a rarity for high draft picksdeclaring early for the draft.[26]
Professional career
Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
All-Rookie honors and first playoffs (2008–10)
Westbrook (left) looks at then-teammateKevin Durant in the post againstBoston in 2010.
Westbrook was selected fourth overall in the2008 NBA draft by theSeattle SuperSonics, which thenrelocated toOklahoma City and became theThunder six days later. He signed with the team on July 5, 2008.[29] Westbrook was again unable to wear his old number 4 jersey, asNick Collison was already wearing it, so instead he wore 0 again. He would not wear the number 4 jersey until the2023–24 season.[25] On March 2, 2009, Westbrook recorded his first careertriple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He was the first rookie sinceChris Paul and the third rookie in Sonics/Thunder franchise history (Art Harris andGary Payton) to record a triple-double.[30]
Westbrook averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in his rookie season. He finished fourth in the 2008–09NBA Rookie of the Year voting[31] and was named to the NBA'sNBA All-Rookie First Team.[22]
In his second season, and his first season as a full-time starter, Westbrook averaged 16.1 points, 8.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. The Thunder made a huge turnaround by more than doubling their wins from the previous season and qualified forthe playoffs with a 50–32 record. The Thunder were eliminated by the eventual championLos Angeles Lakers in the first round. In the series, Westbrook stepped up his play from the regular season, averaging 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 3.2 steals.[32]
First All-Star, All-NBA and NBA Finals appearances (2010–12)
Westbrook in March 2011
On November 26, 2010, Westbrook scored a then-career-high 43 points against theIndiana Pacers.[33] Westbrook was selected by NBA head coaches to be a Western Conference reserve for the2011 NBA All-Star Game.[34] This was his first all-star appearance. Westbrook finished the season with averages of 21.9 points, 8.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals. He was named to theAll-NBA Second Team for the first time. The Thunder finished the season at 55–27 and lost to the eventual world championDallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals. Westbrook averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds inthe playoffs.[35]
Due to thelockout, the 2011–12 season would start onChristmas Day. On January 9, 2012, Westbrook would sign a 5-year, $80 million extension to keep him in Oklahoma City through the 2016–17 season.[36] On February 9, was again selected by the coaches to participate in the2012 NBA All-Star Game. On March 23, 2012, he scored a career-high 45 points in a 149–140 double overtime win over theMinnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 23.6 points, 5.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals for thelockout-shortened season and was voted to the All-NBA Second Team for the second year in a row.
Westbrook helped lead the Thunder to theNBA Finals for the first time since the franchise relocated, but they would lose in five games to theMiami Heat. On June 12, in Game 1 of the Finals, Westbrook recorded 27 points and 11 assists in a 105–94 victory. In a Game 4 loss, Westbrook scored aplayoff career-high 43 points.[37]
Season-ending injury (2012–13)
Westbrook drives to the basket in March 2011.
Westbrook was once again selected for the NBA All-Star Game.[38] He finished the2012–13 season averaging 23.2 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.[39] Westbrook helped lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to theplayoffs and the first seed in theWestern Conference. They would go on to face the 8th seedHouston Rockets in the first round.[40] On April 25, 2013, in the second game of the series, Westbrook injured his right knee when Rockets guardPatrick Beverley collided with him in an attempt to steal the ball. Although Westbrook was clearly bothered by the injury, he would continue playing and finished the game with 29 points. It was revealed the next day that he had suffered a slight tear in his rightmeniscus.[41] He had surgery on April 27, 2013, and was declared out for the rest of the playoffs.[42] Without Westbrook, the Thunder defeated the Rockets in six games,[40] but fell to theMemphis Grizzlies in five games in the next round.[43] Westbrook was named to theAll-NBA Second Team for the third consecutive year.[44]
Multiple surgeries and comeback (2013–15)
Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Westbrook had a second surgery on his right knee, which set back his return to basketball.[45] Despite reports that he would miss the first two weeks of the regular season, Westbrook only missed the first two games before returning to action.[46] On December 26, however, it was announced that Westbrook would undergoarthroscopic surgery on his right knee and would be out until after the All-Star break.[47] The Thunder were able to remain competitive despite his absence due mainly toKevin Durant's stellar play. Westbrook returned to the lineup on February 20, 2014. He played the rest of the season on limited minutes and sat out the second night of back-to-backs.[48]
Westbrook and the Thunder finished with a 59–23 record, earning the second seed in the Western Conference. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they faced theSan Antonio Spurs. On May 27, 2014, in a Game 4 victory, Westbrook recorded 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals. The Thunder lost the series to the eventual NBA champion Spurs in six games. Westbrook averaged 26.7 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in the postseason.[49]
Westbrook goes up for a layup againstCleveland in 2015.
After scoring 38 points in a 106–89 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers in the2014–15 season opener, Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand the following game against theLos Angeles Clippers. He missed 14 games with the injury.[50] With Westbrook and Durant both inactive due to injuries, the Thunder amassed a 4–12 record prior to Westbrook's return on November 28. In Westbrook's first game back, he led the Thunder to a win over the New York Knicks with 32 points. Durant returned the following game to face theNew Orleans Pelicans, and the pair helped the Thunder go on a seven-game winning streak to return to playoff contention.[51]
After tying a career-high 45 points on February 4, 2015, in a 102–91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans,[52] Westbrook broke that mark to score a new career high of 48 points two days later, this time in a 116–113 loss to the Pelicans.[53] After being injured the previous year, Westbrook returned to theAll-Star Game in 2015. He tallied 41 points and was named theAll-Star MVP.[54] On February 27, in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Westbrook recorded 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to become the first player to have three straight triple-doubles sinceLeBron James did so in 2009.[55]
On March 4, Westbrook set career highs with 49 points and 16 rebounds. He added 10 assists for his fourth consecutive triple-double, helping the Thunder defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 123–118 in overtime.[56] His streak came to an end the following night against the Chicago Bulls as he recorded 43 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 105–108 loss.[57] On April 12, he scored a career-high 54 points on 21-of-43 shooting in a losing effort to theIndiana Pacers.[58] He went on to help the Thunder win the team's final two games of the 2014–15 season; nevertheless, the team missed theplayoffs, finishing ninth in the West with a 45–37 record.[59]
Second All-Star Game MVP and coming up short (2015–16)
On October 30, 2015, to begin the2015–16 season, Westbrook and Durant each scored 40 points against theOrlando Magic.[60][61] On January 4, Westbrook was named Western Conference co-Player of the Month for December alongside Durant.[62]
Westbrook was voted to start in his firstAll-Star Game in 2016,[63] and he earned his second All-Star Game MVP award in a 196–173 win by the West. He recorded 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in 22 minutes, and became the first player in All-Star history to win consecutive MVPs outright.[64] On March 22, he recorded his 15th triple-double of the season and 34th of his career with 21 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a 111–107 win over the Houston Rockets, amassing the most triple-doubles by a player in a season since 1988–89, when Magic Johnson had 17 and Michael Jordan had 15.[65]
Inthe playoffs, Westbrook helped guide the Thunder past the Dallas Mavericks in the first round and the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the defending champion Golden State Warriors, taking home court advantage after stealing Game 1 of the series on the road. With the series tied at 1–1 after Game 2, the Thunder returned home and took a 3–1 advantage with two home wins. In Game 4, Westbrook recorded his fifth career playoff triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 118–94 win.[66] Despite leading the series 3–1, the Thunder were defeated four games to three by the Warriors to bow out of the playoffs.[67]
Following the off-season departure of Durant, trade speculation began swirling around Westbrook, whose contract was set to expire in 2017. The Thunder were determined to keep Westbrook and held off all trade talks in order to work out an extension.[68] On August 4, 2016, Westbrook signed a three-year, $85.7 million contract extension with the Thunder.[69][70] He became the focal point of the team.[71] On December 9, Westbrook recorded his seventh straight triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 102–99 loss to theHouston Rockets. This streak was the longest triple-double streak sinceMichael Jordan had seven straight triple-doubles in 1989.[72]
On January 23, Westbrook hit a pull-up jumper with 1.4 seconds left to lift the Thunder to a 97–95 win over theUtah Jazz. He finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his 22nd triple-double of the season.[73] Two days later, he had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 114–105 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans, thus passing Bird with his 60th career triple-double.[74]
On March 7, Westbrook's career-high 58 points was not enough to lift the Thunder over thePortland Trail Blazers, losing 126–121.[75] Westbrook went on to tie Oscar Robertson's single-season record of 41 triple-doubles on April 4 against theMilwaukee Bucks.[76] His historic 42nd triple-double, breaking Robertson's record of most triple-doubles in a season, came in a 106–105 road victory against theDenver Nuggets on April 9 in which the team overcame a 14-point deficit. Westbrook scored 18 of his 50 points, including a 36-foot game-winning buzzer-beater, in the game's last five minutes.[77] Westbrook is one of two players in NBA history to average atriple-double for a season.[78] The Thunder finished the regular season with a 47–35 record and enteredthe playoffs as the sixth seed.[79]
On April 19, in Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round playoff series against the Rockets, Westbrook had 51 points. Despite his efforts, the Thunder lost 115–111 to go down 2–0 in the series.[80] In Game 4 four days later, Westbrook had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists, but could not lead the Thunder to a win, as they went down 3–1 in the series with a 113–109 loss.[81] With a loss to the Rockets in Game 5, the Thunder bowed out of the playoffs with a 4–1 series defeat. Westbrook had 47 points in Game 5.[82]
Second triple-double season and playoff disappointment (2017–18)
On September 29, 2017, Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension with the Thunder. The deal started with the 2018–19 season and delivered Westbrook the largest guaranteed contract in NBA history at the time—six seasons and $233 million through 2022–23. The contract included a player option for the 2022–23 season.[85][86] Continuing on from his historic 2016–17 season, Westbrook had a triple-double in the Thunder's season opener against theNew York Knicks on October 19. Playing alongside new All-Star teammatesPaul George andCarmelo Anthony, Westbrook had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists in a 105–84 win.[87] After starting the season with an 8–12 record, the Thunder improved to 20–15 with a 124–107 win over theToronto Raptors on December 27. Westbrook had 30 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds against the Raptors as the Thunder won their sixth straight game.[88]
On March 13, 2018, Westbrook recorded 32 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 119–107 win over theAtlanta Hawks, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to record 100 triple-doubles, joiningOscar Robertson (181 triple-doubles),Magic Johnson (138) andJason Kidd (107).[89] On April 9, Westbrook recorded his 25th triple-double of the season with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in a 115–93 win over theMiami Heat, helping the Thunder clinch a playoff spot.[90] Westbrook finished the season as theleague leader in assists per game, averaging 10.3 per game, and he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.[91] In Game 5 of the Thunder's first-round playoff series against theUtah Jazz, Westbrook scored 33 of his 45 points in the second half as Oklahoma City rallied from 25 points down to fight off elimination and beat the Jazz 107–99. He also had 15 rebounds and seven assists.[92] In Game 6, Westbrook scored 46 points in a 96–91 loss, as the Thunder bowed out ofthe playoffs with a 4–2 defeat.[93]
Third triple-double season and final season in Oklahoma City (2018–19)
Westbrook missed the preseason and the first two regular season games of the 2018–2019 season after undergoing a procedure in September 2018 to deal with inflammation in his right knee.[94][95] In his season debut for the Thunder on October 21, Westbrook had 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes in a 131–120 loss to theSacramento Kings.[95] On November 19, he returned to the line-up after missing five games with a left ankle sprain and had 29 points and 13 assists in a 117–113 loss to the Kings.[96] On January 10, 2019, he recorded a career-high 24 assists[97] to go with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 154–147 double-overtime loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[98]
On January 31, Westbrook received his eighth career All-Star selection by being named aWestern Conference reserve.[99] On February 11, Westbrook broke Wilt Chamberlain's record for consecutive triple-doubles after tallying 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 120–111 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[100] On February 14, he recorded 44 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 131–122 loss to theNew Orleans Pelicans. In addition to increasing his triple-double streak, Westbrook surpassedGary Payton (18,207 points) as the career scoring leader in franchise history.[101] His streak of 11 consecutive games with a triple-double ended in the first game after the All-Star break, as he recorded 43 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in a 148–147 double-overtime win over theUtah Jazz.[102]
On March 17, Westbrook was suspended for one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the season.[103] On April 2, Westbrook had 20 points, 20 rebounds and 21 assists in a 119–103 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[104] He became the second player in NBA history to record 20 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a single game, afterWilt Chamberlain.[105][106] Westbrook led the league in assists per game for the third consecutive season.[107] The Thunder went on to lose in five games to the Trail Blazers in the first round ofthe playoffs.[108] It was the third straight season in which the team was eliminated in the first round.[71]
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Westbrook reunited with former Thunder teammateJames Harden in Houston.
On July 16, 2019, Westbrook was traded to theHouston Rockets for All-StarChris Paul, two protected first-round picks, and two first-round pick swaps. The move reunited Westbrook with former Thunder teammateJames Harden; the two players both expressed mutual interest and enthusiasm in playing together at this stage in their careers.[109] Harden spent his first three seasons in the league (2009–2012) on the Thunder with Westbrook. They had played together in the2012 NBA Finals.[110]
Westbrook made his Rockets debut in a 117–111 loss against theMilwaukee Bucks on October 24, 2019, leading the team with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes of play.[111] In Westbrook's second game as a Rocket on October 26, 2019, he became second all time in career triple-doubles, passingMagic Johnson with a 28-point, 13-assist and 10-rebound performance in a 126–123 win against theNew Orleans Pelicans.[112]
On January 9, 2020, Westbrook made his return to Oklahoma City for the first time as a visitor, scoring 34 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and passing for 5 assists on 14-of-26 shooting from the field in a 113–92 loss.[113] With his triple-double against Oklahoma City on January 20, he joinedLeBron James as the only two players to have logged triple-doubles against all 30 NBA teams.[114]
Thesuspension of the 2019–20 NBA season began in March due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In July, Westbrook tested positive forCOVID-19.[115] He recovered and rejoined the team later that month inOrlando, Florida, for the league's restart.[116] In the third game following his return, Westbrook strained his right quad and missed four of the five remaining regular season games. Inthe playoffs, he missed the first four games of the opening series against Oklahoma City. He helped Houston advance to the semifinals, where they were eliminated 4–1 by the Lakers. In his eight playoff games, Westbrook averaged 17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, the lowest averages of his postseason career.[117]
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Fourth triple-double season and career triple-doubles record (2020–21)
On December 2, 2020, amidst rumors that he and Harden were unhappy and wanted out from the Rockets,[118] Westbrook was traded to theWashington Wizards forJohn Wall and a 2023 lottery-protected first-round draft pick.[119][120] He was not named to the2021 All-Star Game, missing the game for the first time since 2014.[71][121] On March 30, 2021, Westbrook became the first player sinceMagic Johnson in 1988 to record a 30–10–20 triple-double with 35 points, a then-season-high 21 assists, plus 14 rebounds, in a 132–124 win over theIndiana Pacers.[122] His 16th triple-double in his 38th game with the Wizards, Westbrook brokeDarrell Walker's franchise record for career triple-doubles,[122] which had stood for 30 years.[123]
On May 4, Westbrook clinched his fourth season averaging a triple-double after tallying 14 points, a career-high 21 rebounds, and a new season-high 24 assists in a 154–141 win against the Pacers.[124] On May 10, he put up 28 points, 13 rebounds and 21 assists in a 125–124 loss against theAtlanta Hawks for his 182nd career triple-double to pass Oscar Robertson for the most triple-doubles in NBA history.[125] On May 15, in a 120–105 win over theCleveland Cavaliers Westbrook recorded another triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists as the Wizards clinched aplay-in spot.[126] Westbrook won his third NBA assist title, averaging a career-high 11.7 assists per game.[127] He also averaged 22.2 points on 43.9% shooting and a career-high 11.5 rebounds.[128] Westbrook has averaged a triple-double for a season four times.[124]
After a 118–100 loss to the Celtics for the No. 7 spot in the play-in tournament, Westbrook andBradley Beal led the Wizards to a blowout win 142–115 over the Pacers to clinch the lastplayoff spot and the Wizards' first playoff appearance since 2018.[129] The Wizards lost to the top-seeded 76ers in five games in the first round.[130]
As his first season with the Lakers progressed, Westbrook received criticism for his perceived poor quality of play.[135][136] Westbrook was criticized following a 4-for-20 shooting performance in a 122–115 loss to theBrooklyn Nets on Christmas Day.[137] The Lakers had a 21–20 record at the halfway point of the regular season, and Westbrook was often a recipient of the blame for the team's struggles relative to its 2020 championship season. Westbrook shot 30 percent from the three-point line and turned the ball over 4.6 times per game through early January, and he received criticism for a particular game against theMinnesota Timberwolves where he turned the ball over nine times. Westbrook later responded to critics, saying that they were only looking at thestat sheet and not his overall play on the court.[138]
On January 4, 2022, in a 122–114 win over theSacramento Kings, Westbrook had his first game without turnovers since March 14, 2016.[139] On January 19, he was benched by Lakers head coachFrank Vogel in the final four minutes of a home loss against theIndiana Pacers.[140][141]
On April 5, 2022, the Lakers were defeated, 121–110, by the Phoenix Suns. This defeat eliminated the team from obtaining aplayoff berth. The 2021–22 season was the third season in Westbrook's career (and the first since2015) in which he missed the playoffs.[142] Vogel was fired after the season. Following Vogel's firing, Westbrook said, "I'm not sure what his issue was with me."[143][144] The coach had kept him in the starting lineup all season despite pressure to bring him off the bench.[141][143] Westbrook attended new head coachDarvin Ham's introductory press conference, where the coach said "Russell Westbrook is one of the best players our league has ever seen, and there's still a ton left in the tank." He said a common theme of their meetings was "sacrifice".[145] Westbrook opted in to the final year of his contract for 2022–23, valued at $47 million.[146]
Sixth man role (2022–23)
After severing ties with agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman in July 2022, Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports as his agent on August 1, 2022.[147] During the off-season, the Lakers acquired point guardsPatrick Beverley andDennis Schröder.[148][149] On October 28, Westbrook came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season and chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds in a 111–102 loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves.[150] On November 2, 2022, CBS Sports reported that Westbrook had described his new role coming off the bench as "'beneficial for everybody'".[151] On November 12, the Lakers' record was 2–10 and they stood in last place in the Western Conference.[152] Claire de Lune ofThe Guardian provided the following November 16 analysis of Westbrook's fit with the Lakers:
Like many relationships, the Lakers and Westbrook felt doomed from the start. Sure, when Westbrook arrived in Los Angeles, which happens to be his home town, for training camp in September of last year, the veteran point guard was coming off of an impressive season with the Washington Wizards. But the fit issues with the existing roster, especially James and Davis, were already glaring. Westbrook has never been known for his shooting accuracy, and is notorious for playing best in situations where he can be the ball-dominant scorer and orchestrator of the offense. He’s also never been outstanding defensively. After 20 seasons of watching James in the NBA, one formula has remained battle-tested and proven: surround him with shooters to space the floor, a few enthusiastic and hard-nosed defenders, and he will handle the rest. As talented as the one-time NBA MVP Westbrook may be, he is, realistically, none of the above. It was a recipe for disaster, and a disaster it’s been.[153]
On December 9, Westbrook recorded his first career triple-double off the bench with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in a 133–122 overtime loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers.[154]
On January 15, 2023, Westbrook put up 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists off the bench in a 113–112 loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers. It was his fourth career triple-double off the bench, which set a record for the most triple-doubles off the bench in NBA history.[155] On January 20, Westbrook had 29 points, five rebounds and six assists, as the Lakers rallied a 122–121 win to snap theMemphis Grizzlies' winning streak at 11 games.[156] On January 30, Westbrook made his 8,967th career assist in a 121–104 loss to theBrooklyn Nets,[157] surpassingGary Payton for tenth place in the all-time career assists list.[158]
On February 9, 2023, Westbrook was traded to theUtah Jazz in a three-team trade involving theMinnesota Timberwolves.[159] At the time of the trade, he was averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds with the Lakers on 41.7% shooting in a career-low 28.7 minutes per game.[160]
Following the trade, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports opined that Westbrook's level of success coming off the bench for the Lakers was "a matter of debate":
Westbrook quickly became the betting favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year, but the Lakers still never reached .500 with him on the team this season. Lineups with him and without him performed similarly, his tendency towards turnovers and poor shot-selection persisted and he was still often benched late in games.[161]
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)
On February 20, Westbrook and the Utah Jazz reached a contract buyout agreement;[162][163] he did not play in any games for the team.[164]
On February 22, 2023, Westbrook signed with theLos Angeles Clippers, reuniting with his former Thunder teammatePaul George.[165] Westbrook became a starter with the Clippers.[166] On February 24, Westbrook made his Clippers debut, putting up 17 points and 14 assists in a 176–175 double overtime loss to theSacramento Kings.[167][168][169] According toBleacher Report, Westbrook "looked rejuvenated" after joining the Clippers.[166]
On March 5, Westbrook won his first game as a member of the Clippers with a 135–129 come-from-behind victory against theMemphis Grizzlies.[170] On March 11, Westbrook made his 9,062nd career assist in a 106–95 win over theNew York Knicks,[171] surpassingIsiah Thomas for ninth place in the all-time career assists list.[172] During the regular season, Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field for the Clippers. In July 2023, CoachTyronn Lue praised Westbrook's effort and toughness, saying that Westbrook had "saved" the Clippers during the final 20 games of the regular season following injuries toPaul George and others.[166]
The Clippers faced thePhoenix Suns in the first round of the2023 NBA playoffs. On April 22, in Game 4 of the Clippers–Suns series, Westbrook scored 37 points in a 112–100 loss.[173] Despite Westbrook averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the playoffs, the Clippers were eliminated by the Suns in five games.[174]
On July 6, 2023, the Clippers re-signed Westbrook[175] to a two-year, $7.8 million contract.[176] After the Clippers' blockbuster trade forJames Harden, Westbrook requested to come off the bench,[177] mainly to save a six-game losing streak the Clippers were experiencing at the time.[178] On January 1, 2024, Westbrook passedPatrick Ewing for 25th place on the league's all-time scoring list.[179] On February 2, Westbrook scored 23 points and delivered nine assists to become the 25th player in NBA history with 25,000 career points in a 136–125 win over theDetroit Pistons.[180] He and James Harden became the third pair of 25,000-point scorers to play together in NBA history. They joinedLeBron James andCarmelo Anthony for the 2021–22 Lakers andKevin Garnett andPaul Pierce for the 2013–14 Nets.[181] On April 9, Westbrook recorded his first triple-double as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a 105–92 win over the Phoenix Suns.[182]
On July 18, 2024, Westbrook, alongside the draft rights toBalša Koprivica, a second-round pick swap and cash considerations, was traded to theUtah Jazz in exchange forKris Dunn in a sign-and-trade.[184] He was then waived on July 20.[185]
On November 6, 2024, Westbrook scored 29 points, along with six rebounds and six assists on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from three in a 124–122 win over his former team, theOklahoma City Thunder.[187] On November 19, Westbrook put up his 200th career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 122–110 win over theMemphis Grizzlies, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve 200 career triple-doubles.[188] On December 30, Westbrook put up a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 132–121 win over theUtah Jazz. He posted the triple-double without a missed field goal or a turnover. Westbrook became just the third player in NBA history to record a triple double with no missed shots and no turnovers, the third to achieve that feat, joiningNikola Jokić andDomantas Sabonis.[189]
On January 10, 2025, Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 124–105 win over theBrooklyn Nets. His teammate Jokić also put up a triple-double with 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds, lbecoming the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each record a triple-double in the same game multiple times in a season.[190] On March 15, Westbrook logged 22 points and 11 assists in a 126–123 loss against theWashington Wizards, surpassing 26,000 career points and becoming the 21st player to reach the milestone and the second point guard afterOscar Robertson.[191] On March 28, in a 129–93 win over theUtah Jazz, Westbrook passed Oscar Robertson for No. 8 all-time in assists andKobe Bryant for No. 16 all-time in steals.[192]
During an April 1 game against theMinnesota Timberwolves, Westbrook intercepted a pass, then missed a layup with 17.7 seconds left in the second overtime, with the Nuggets up by one point with the shot clock turned off.[193] He then fouled Timberwolves playerNickeil Alexander-Walker with a tenth of a second left as Alexander-Walker attempted a three-point shot in the corner, allowing Alexander-Walker to make two free throws, resulting in a 140–139 Minnesota victory.[194]
On May 27, 2025, Westbrook underwent surgery on his right hand to repair multiple ligament tears.[195] On June 13, Westbrook declined his $3.4 million player option, thus becoming afree agent.
Sacramento Kings (2025–present)
On October 16, 2025, Westbrook signed a one-year, minimum salary contract with theSacramento Kings.[196] On November 5, Westbrook had his 204th career triple‑double and his first as a Kings player, posting 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 121–116 victory over theGolden State Warriors.[197] He also achieved 8,734 career rebounds, surpassingJason Kidd (8,725) for the most career rebounds by a guard in NBA history.[198] On November 14, Westbrook achieved 10,000 career assists in a 124–110 loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves, recording a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists, and joiningLeBron James as the only players in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points and 10,000 career assists.[199][200][201]
National team career
Westbrook with Team USA in 2012
In 2010, Westbrook was selected to theFIBA World Championship team in Istanbul, Turkey. On a team without a single member fromits 2008 Olympic gold-medal team, Westbrook was considered a star on the team.[202] The 2010 team relied heavily on asmall lineup,[203] and Westbrook finished in the top five on the team in minutes per game, and top three in points and assists per game. Team USA went 9–0 to win its first World Championship since1994.[204] The win automatically qualified Team USA for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and the U.S.A overtookArgentina for the No. 1world ranking.[205]
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighing 200 pounds (91 kg), Westbrook is apoint guard who is widely known for playing at a high level of intensity and for being able to keep that intensity for the majority of his playing time.[207] Westbrook will often look to push the pace of the game for transition points and attack the basket.[208]
Though attacking the rim is Westbrooke's forte, he will frequently pull up for medium-range jump shots.[209][210] He regularly creates good scoring opportunities for his teammates, resulting in him averaging over eight assists per game for his career.[211][212][213] Despite his intense style of play, and despite having torn his right meniscus in 2013,[41] Westbrook remains one of the NBA's most durable players. The2025–26 season marked his 18th season in the NBA. In his first five years with Oklahoma City he played in every game.[214]
As of November 6, 2025[update], Westbrook's 204 regular-season triple-doubles are the most in NBA history.[215] His 12 playoff triple-doubles put him at fourth most all time.[216]
Westbrook's free throw percentage has declined in the latter years of his career, coinciding with an NBA rule change implemented before the2017–18 season.[217] In order to reduce wasted time, the rule stipulated that the free throw shooter may not walk back beyond the three-point line in between free throws. While this did not affect most players, it changed Westbrook's prior routine of walking back nearly to half-court between shots, something he had done since childhood.[217] His free throw percentage dropped from 82.3% for the nine years prior to the rule change, to 68.5% for the 7 1/2 years since (to January 2025).[214]
Westbrook's three-point shooting and turnovers are sometimes mentioned when pundits criticize his play. As of January 2025, he has averaged 30.5% on three-point field goal attempts and 3.9 turnovers per game during his career.[214][218] Westbrook has also been criticized for his "single-mindedness" and for being uncooperative.[219] However, teammates and former teammates such asPaul George,[220]Austin Reaves[221] andBradley Beal[222] have praised him for his leadership and strong work ethic.[223][224]
In October 2012, Westbrook signed with theJordan Brand.[227] His first commercial was with the Jordan Brand and Champs in which a high school athlete purchased Jordan gear from Champs and transformed into Westbrook and won a state championship.[228] In 2017, Westbrook signed a 10-year extension with Jordan Brand that gave him the largest total endorsement deal of any athlete sponsored by the brand.[229]
In November 2013, Westbrook signed with Kings and Jaxs Boxer Briefs. He stated: "I have always loved fashion so working with Kings & Jaxs was a natural fit as we both have a fearless and creative approach to style."[230] He signed withPepsiCo to become the global face ofMountain Dew Kickstart.[231]
Fashion
In 2015, Westbrook was named Marketing Creative Director of the denim brandTrue Religion.[232] In 2016, he launched the unisex streetwear brand Honor the Gift,[233][234] which pays tribute to his years growing up in Hawthorne and Los Angeles.[233][235]
Film
Westbrook made hisproduction debut withTulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre about theTulsa race massacre,[236] which was inspired by his time playing in Oklahoma City.[237] It received threePrimetime Emmy nominations in 2021. He produced the short filmWhy Not? in a collaboration with Jordan Brand.[236] He also produced his autobiographical documentary,Passion Play: Russell Westbrook, which debuted onShowtime in 2021.[238]
Personal life
Westbrook and his wife have three children: one son and twin daughters.[239][240]
Westbrook wears a "KB3" wristband and has "KB3" on his sneakers in honor of his childhood friend Khelcey Barrs III.[19] In 2012, he started the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, which promotes community-based education and family service programs while pushing youngsters to be self-confident.[241]
^ab""I Believe that Khelcey's Energy Is Inside Russell": The Legacy of Khelcey Barrs".vice.com. April 14, 2017. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2022.On May 9, 2004, he debuted in Los Angeles' prestigious Drew League at age 16, a rarity for such a young player. DePaul, the school where Wright had committed prior to opting for the NBA draft, extended the first scholarship offer, with a truckload more to come. USC watched him work out. They were drawn to his frame, long and projectable, but more so to the preternatural polish in his game. "You had this sophomore who could rebound the ball, dribble the ball up court, and set somebody else up," says Patrick Cleveland, a former high-school teammate who is now an assistant coach at Leuzinger. "He could go coast to coast and finish. He could shoot the ball. He can pass the ball. He defends."
^"Lillard hits 50, ousts OKC with 37-footer at buzzer".ESPN.com. April 23, 2019. RetrievedApril 24, 2019.Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double and his second of the series.
^Beacham, Greg (April 11, 2022)."Lakers fire title-winning head coach Frank Vogel after 3 seasons". CBC. RetrievedApril 14, 2022.... while Westbrook struggled mightily to fit into the Lakers' team concept during one of the worst seasons of his professional career. After so much preseason ballyhoo around the teaming of James, Davis and Westbrook, the trio managed to play in only 21 games together — and went 11–10.
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