Russell Westbrook has retired.
u/MITWestbrook praying for you rn
What a legendary run
Ngl his Lin post is weird
For those curious. It is weird.
It’s not weird. It’s just racist. It is fundamentally rooted in the bigoted idea that anyone non-white isn’t really “American” and belongs in whatever country their non-white ancestry is from.
I know it’s all memes and shitposting but I don’t know why people here give this dude so much attention. Even outside of the racist stuff here, it’s clear reading their posts they don’t even know wtf they’re talking about. They just find random cherrypicked stats for their posts and act like they’re making actual points
Look I’m half asian so fuck that guy….but his westbrook posts were hilarious.
They teetered on the line of you couldn’t tell if he was being serious or brilliantly trolling, which I took as brilliantly trolling. That kind of memeing is better than 99% of the garbage /r/nba has turned into.
This place has turned into ragebait, but MITWestbrook is like a cartoonish parody of /r/nba
I’ve always just found the contortions they twist themselves into to prop up Westbrook amusing and entertaining; I’ve never taken it as serious analysis, and I think most people on here are in the same boat. It’s just funny to watch someone stan for someone else so blatantly.
Weird is understating. It’s plainly moronic, ignorant, and borderline racist.
borderline racist.
Oh no it definitely is this as well
We can still downvote it!
Kyle Anderson
It shows removed for me
https://arctic-shift.photon-reddit.com/search?fun=posts_search&subreddit=NBA&author=MITWestbrook&limit=10&sort=desc
For posterity
https://imgur.com/a/ksdskSr
Damn. Even the mods had to delete that racism
Bro washed like westbrick
Top 5 funniest NBA slander nicknames 😪
It’s probably #1
Westbrick
Day to Davis
WebEmbiid
Wayoff P
Dubious Handle
are my top 5
Child Porn 3
Its a huge bummer he didnt sign in Tel Aviv because Westbank is better than any of them
It is definitely not a bummer he didn’t sign there, but that nickname would’ve been generational
that’s not the only one. He was also questioning why Xaivian Lee doesn’t play for Korea. I guess he found a new niche.
https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1uzhlnx/highlight_xaivian_lee_with_the_3pointer_to_give/oy7jrs1/?context=3
It’s giving “where are you really from”.
His comments telling people to invest their money is super hilarious because it’s terrible advice spoken with insane confidence.
sounds like westbrick, are we sure thats not his burner? lmao
he might have learnt a thing or two from KD lol
Sad
F
U
N
K
Take as much time as you need before you start your SGA simp train
I’m sorry for your loss.
I was looking forward to him joining the Tel Aviv basketball subreddit to shitpost there
Their watch has ended
This how I felt when rose retired.
Thunder should’ve done what the raptors did for Kyle Lowry
i’m honestly sad Presti didn’t give him a vet min homecoming tour
They might have, but also he likely wouldn’t have played much, which he probably wasn’t into. I’m guessing he didn’t receive any offers with enough playing time.
makes sense, he def wouldn’t see anything other than garbage time on the Thunder roster tbh
Still could’ve come out for one standing ovation as they announce his retirement and fans would’ve been ecstatic. Not that he has to do anything for anyone but would be cool if that became a thing
He’ll get that when we retire his jersey on opening home game
Do these things usually move that fast?? Russ is an OKC legend but the season starts in like 2 months lol
Yeah there’s no way it’s happening opening night
Yeah, it could happen that fast, but Opening Night will already be a sellout. They’ll pick some random Tuesday night against the Wizards to do this to get a bump in ticket sales.
He was honestly pretty good for the Wizards. Wouldn’t hate them getting a piece of the action.
Russ is an OKC legend
That’s underselling it a bit. Russ is easily the number two all-time guy for the Thunder (Nick Collison is obviously Thunder GOAT).
It would absolutely not surprise me if they retired his shit immediately.
Will they be able to get Collison to show up to the ceremony on such short notice though?
I imagine it was a decision by Russ not to go back to OKC. If there was a serious offer of a vet minimum it most likely would have been leaked by now.
OKC has been notorious for not having leaks out of our FO tho
Not saying it would’ve been from OKC, but Russ could’ve easily leaked his intentions to the media about a potential return if he was seriously considering it. If no team is willing to take you and you’re still interested in playing, there’s nothing to lose.
Gotta remember with old guys, know they play in pain and the maintenance for them to keep playing, takes away more time every day. Especially with Russ’ playstyle I can imagine, that dude was feeling it.
Bro helped me win two fantasy leagues. Always my GOAT ♥️
u/MITWestbrook needs to come out with one final blast
This is practically begging the Chris Paul situation to happen again
Thunder are a serious organization with players that want to win, Clippers are not.
Would’ve absolutely loved that, but that doesn’t really seem like something Presti would do or maybe Russ was just done.
Or at least a one day contract
Russ seems to have a very full life outside of basketball. It’s very possible that he did not want his last season be one where he’s just a decoration on a team.
Kyle Lowry signed a one day during the off season just so he is officially retiring as a Raptor. He never actually had to show up at all, let alone be a decoration.
Him and KD seemed to divulge in complete opposite directions.
Russ was always extroverted, energetic, precocious and wild on the court. Off the court he has a wife and kids and a big family and is heavily involved in the community. Career had Hall of Fame highs, but kind of fizzled out.
KD is quiet, a loner, and never felt “at home” anywhere. No wife, no kids. Career hasn’t had a ton of individual high points—but he’s consistently been one of the greatest overall players of all time every single year.
Now that you say it, why didn’t they? Feels like a slam dunk move.
Could be in part because they’re so absurdly deep that they truly didn’t have room lol
Also Westbrook would probably be pissed when he got no minutes in the playoffs except as a victory cigar
1 day contract to retire as a thunder
Might be cap and roaster issues. I feel like the NBA should provide a waiver in these situations.
Aren’t one-day contracts purely symbolic?
They are lol idk what these people are talking about. It’s like they’ve never heard of the concept before.
A legacy roster spot? For the Deandre and garret temples of the league so they don’t have to take up a roster spot
I’m not sure if they even knew he was retiring
Sure as hell retiring that 0 though
Fack man this is the first player retirement that made me feel old. Saw his whole career from start to finish
LeBron keeps me feeling young.
LeYouth
LeFuckYouth
Uhhhhh I don’t think that landed the way you wanted it to…
LePstein
LeZarus Pit
I’m 6 months older than LeBron, so as long as he’s still in the league I have a chance.
This was running through my mind right up to my rec league hip injury this summer.
lol same. I was just a wee freshman in college getting to watch LeBron’s rookie season in the dorms. And damn, we watched every single game.
Let’s get you to bed, gramps
Remember to schedule your colonoscopy.
Damn this comment makes me feel even older lmfao
It sucks! Russ is one of my favorite players ever and one of the first players that got me into loving basketball. He was the NBA’s Steve Smith (for NFL fans), who also happens to be one of my top 2-3 players ever.
Relentless, a beast, incredibly exciting. Dude is a LEGEND.
I watched the man from UCLA all through his NBA career. Crazy. I am old. Fuck.
Don’t worry, it only gets worse from here!
I hate how much the tail end of players careers can shape how they are viewed. Russ was so good for so long, and gave a decade of electricity in every game.
It’ll revert. Vince Carter played well into his 40s but his legacy has already adjusted back to 02.
This. McGrady, D Rose are other examples of guys that I think of their prime.
In the same vein Penny and Grant Hill.
Ay yo we slam harder, onyx and Vince Carter.
I think he saw more love than Russ tbh
People who haven’t watched the league for as long really don’t understand how crazy the triple double stuff was. It used to be such a rare thing to get even one, the idea that a player would ever average a triple double for a whole season in the modern era was absurd. Then Russ came along and did it four times.
Oscar averaging a triple double was seen in the same light as wilt’s 100 point game as an ancient wonder that would be impossible to do nowadays. Everyone has an opinion on if russ really deserved mvp that year but the triple double stuff really was mindblowing.
The only player to do it since was Jokic right? Its still an insane feat regardless of how the naysayers feel. Oscar Robertson and Nikola Jokic are quite the names to be entangled with if you ask me.
He didn’t really straight up slow down until like 2-3 years ago, even on Washington he was legit, the Lakers was just a bad fit.
The lakers were a bad fit but he was still completely awful. Two things can be true.
As a Lakers fan, I’m willing to overlook everything he did before joining the team.
Lakers were just a bad fit but it just so happened that the 2 teams before LA and the 3 teams after LA didn’t want to keep him for more than 1 season?
I mean the hate on him has always been there, even during his MVP season. And there are real criticisms there lol. At one point he was first in the league in uncontested rebounds, while defensively contesting fewer 3 pointers than only Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside.
Career 47.2% EFG% is rough though. And that number actually went up slightly at end of his career when his shot selection was forced to improve. Obviously he had a huge impact outside his shooting but that inefficiency X massive shooting volume hurt his teams.
Damn. I know he became a bit of a meme in his later years, but Russ was definitely a fun player to watch. Feels so weird to see him hang it up.
One of the most explosive players in league’s history
THE most explosive ever. It was between him and DRose to me. Absolutely electric MVP seasons.
Quite crazy how different the reputation of Drose and Westbrook is
You either ACL a hero, or play long enough to become the Westbrick
Yea, feels like he held on a little too long but still a legend. MVP Russ was insane.
Felt like he still had the talent to be a productive player but not the mindset to slot into the correct role. Not everyone can be Vince Carter I guess.
His skillset wasn’t a good fit to be slotted into a supporting role. He was always going to be all or nothing kinda player
He was good for Denver
They still didn’t want him back for a reason, and it was because he didn’t know how to scale down as a player. If he could slot in as a defensive disruptor, break starter, slasher, etc. then he would have elongated his career.
But he came in and kind of needed to be the guy you largely play through.
Feels like Russ also had some Melo syndrome too where his ego still expected a featured role and couldn’t deal with the reality of where he is now as an aging guard who could never shoot well to begin with
Yeah, but with Melo it was a bit more egregious because he had all the right skillsets to scale down. Like play up in size as he lost his mobility, and then just be a microwave scorer.
Russ always was going to have it a bit tougher, but yeah, if he embraced more of a true role player mentality, he could likely still contribute.
13.2⁄5.8⁄5.1 average over the past three years for a total of $11M, as a 35-37 year old, after the HOF career he already had, and people solely focused on the mistakes.
First ballot.
1 of 3 players to average a triple-double, and he did it 4 times.
Most career points by a PG (Steph will lap him now that he’s retired, though). By far the most career rebounds by a guard, and nobody active is even close. Fifth most career assists.
The disrespect he gets is unbelievable to me but I just chalk it up to high school kids and younger being born no earlier than 2009
Will ens up pretty underrated in all time discussions, especially as the game kinda passed him by a bit. At his peak he was just special. That carry job for his MVP was bonkers.
Excited for the last few seasons to fade in the collective memory so we can appreciate him for what he was: One of the most electrifying competitors the sport has ever seen.
Freak athlete too. Very few players in NBA history attacked the rim with as much ferocity as him
And an absolute Ironman until Patrick Beverley made the dirty play on his knee
Even after that he was an ironman. Averaged 70+ games a season for the rest of his career
Probably my favorite player of all time. It didn’t matter if his team was up by 20 or down by 20 he was always on laying as hard as he could. One of the last tone setters in the NBA in my opinion.
Yeah, that’s exactly what it is - that man was 100% Westbrook at all times. You don’t get that kind of thing very often. He might be frustrating at times, but the heart, the hustle, the whole thing - the man was a gem.
I wonder if people will do the same for another Russell, Wilson.
He was too curated. Inauthentic
He was sincerely inauthentic more so than possibly any person to ever live. I can’t believe Ciara went from Future to Russell, but then was reminded of how much Russell was making.
Legend, one of the most fun MVP seasons
Absolute man on a mission that year with KD leaving
Crazy part is when KD left the league almost expected him to go ballistic and he still shocked everyone. When asked if it stings where KD went to and he just said “Sting for who?”. Always loved that.
Staying and lifting us up literally made the championship Thunder team possible. Also got to see him play a lot of games that year. He was so much fun to watch, he went off every single night.
A random thing I like to mention is when he dunks you can hear him scream over 20,000 people. Its my favorite year of any player ever, and couldn’t believe some of the stuff he did.
I bought a westbrook tshirt before that season because I was like “he’s winning the MVP this year” and he sure fuckin did! I still have the shirt but am sadly too fat for it these days
the Nuggets Triple Double/Game-Winner is one of those legendary games that will live on forever
WHAT A PERFECT ENDING TO A HISTORIC DAY
Some of the craziest shit I’ve ever watched, you couldn’t write it any better.
One of the greatest players of all time
Fuck the haters he was awesome
triple double coke bear
Most underappreciated player of all time
How can you underappreciate objectively selfish/bad basketball?
He has the lowest shot contest rate for guards…in NBA history, league average is 8 contests per game, he’s at 3.2 for his career. He litterally waits for you to shoot to turn and try and get the rebound.
Average time between assists before he reaches 10? 3 minutes 50 seconds. After he reaches 10 assists? 7 minutes and 2 seconds.
He wanted triple doubles more than he wanted to win and would change his game based on reaching arbitrary numbers in the stat sheet.
I think there is a very clear reason he never won anything.
Somebody check on MIT
I saw him at the airport to drive Russ back home, one last ride.
Was he wearing a seatbelt?
Dear Mr “I’m too good for my fans”
He’s writing a post on how Westbrook actually had a better career than Jordan and LeBron combined.
His magnum opus will be incredible
Just saw a guy fall to his knees at MIT
Truly sad he could never win a ring in OKC
Fuck you Patrick Beverly
And fuck you KD
Well yeah, that’s a given
The only way I could have rooted for the Thunder to win a chip again soon would have been if Russ joined them for one last hurrah, that would have been incredible :‘(
End of an era man
Feels like formerly young people are starting to get old.
Quick too. The last decade was hard to savor. Feels like we all lost a lot of time.
Restbrook. Well deserved. Was always one of my favorite players.
So fun to watch. Rest up king.
Sucks he is retiring a King as well, wish OKC signed him for one last year even to just be a mentor or to even do what Lowry did and sign a 1 day, retiring a King tho idk
Meh who cares. He’ll always be remembered for his Thunder days.
shut the fuck up he a kings legend now
Def buying a westbrook jersey when they go on sale
Say what you want, but at least we weren’t handling it as badly as the Clippers cutting Chris Paul on his retirement tour for criticizing the coaches.
Catching strays
what does OKC need mentors for
they’re a championship winning team with most of the team still intact
We gave lowry a 1 day , its not like he played again its purely so he could retire a raptor
I love Russell Westbrook. Always have. Such competitive fire. I’m going to miss him a lot.
Off the court, a great husband and father, married to his college sweetheart. Tirelessly involved in his community and trying to help people come up in life.
I think he’s one of the most unjustly hated and misunderstood people in NBA history. He’s a great person and deserves his flowers.
Much love, Brodie.
100% the man deserves credit for who he is off the court. I loved watching Russ play, but I never had to watch him play for my team so it was easy to ignore the bad parts of his career. But aside from him being one of the most exciting guys in the league to watch, he’s also just a good dude in general.
Absolute legend man no matter how much he’s trolled now, there was a time when Westbrook was a goddamn gazelle on both ends of the court.
Fashion icon who happened to play ball
Cam Newton 🤝 Russell Westbrook
👑👑
2 MVPs tho!
2 underappreciated kings
Prime Westbrook was the most entertaining player to watch
I know people clown him but he will go down as one of my all time favorites.
[deleted]
The OKC goat fr. Every game was passion
The greatest lol
Reddit try not to take literally everything literally challenge = failed
My MVP forever
Goatbrook
He played hard no matter what. In the era of load management mad respect
My favorite player. No matter how much flack he got I’d never stop supporting him. Gave 100% into every game no matter the opponent. Enjoy retirement Russ.
He saw them reports that he saw going to Israel and knew it was time
Okc would’ve been cool, oh well. See you in 5 years for the HoF induction
3 years, they reduced the times recently
salute Muscle Chestbrook, an actual T-1000 sent to play maniacal basketball
Dude got shit on toward the end of his career when the game style shifted, but I’ve always been a huge fan of his. Fierce competitor and always heard people say good things about him.
Had a great career, wish him the best
FUCK NOOOO
Salute to the triple double king!
I would never have gotten into or stuck with this sport were it not for him. Watching this guy play was so much fun, my favourite player by a mile. Wish we could’ve given him one last ride but I understand if he doesn’t wanna be the 11th or 12th man on this team.
It always makes me sad when a player who I saw play in college retires after a long career. Not that I feel old, it’s just a sign of the way the world changes around us.
Damn man, lowkey this has me feeling a little emotional lol
Most overrated player in nba history
I don’t care what anybody said about him ever. That boy balled out every minute he was ever on the court. Nothing but respect. You can’t stat pad enough to take away the magnificence of those three consecutive triple dozen seasons. Totally insane and the hate and blame he got was, in my opinion, completely unfair and super convenient for a lot of assholes. Total stud and by all accounts an honorable human being.
Too classy of a guy to need all of the attention of a season long retirement tour. You got many great things still left for this world to see my guy!
Awwwww… guess I’m spending today watching highlights 🥲🫡
Mean comments by Reddit users about him potentially playing in Israel persuaded him to walk away from the game.
Wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet russ. I’ve watched your entire career and I always rooted for you and supported you. This was such a heartbreaking announcement, but I wish you nothing but the best for the next chapter of your career.
BRODIE WHY MAN WHY. U THE REASON I EVEN KNOW ABOUT NBA.
Damn. Them okc days will be legendary
Wow. They have to do these guys better man.
Chris Paul and Westbrook both deserved to end their careers being honored as the Hall of Fame players they are
Wow that’s shocking honestly. I thought he’d have another run somewhere. Thank you Russ. Sorry for trading for you
Ride off into the sunset my beautiful triple double cocaine bear 🥹