After 18 seasons in the NBA, Russell Westbrook is saying goodbye … in his own way.
The 2017 NBA MVP shared a video on social media on Wednesday with him watching some of his biggest moments in the league, from resetting the record book as the NBA’s all-time leader in single-season and career triple-doubles, his ferocious dunks and his style of play that made him one of the most beloved players of his generation.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” he wrote on the post. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
In the clip, Jordan’s voice looms heavily as Westbrook walks through a museum of his career. His MVP trophy is shown, as is an autographed version of his Olympic jersey from the 2012 Olympic Games, when he represented the United States. Jordan himself thanked Westbrook in the comments of the post on Instagram.
“Thank you for all you’ve given to the game!!” he wrote, with a salute emoji at the end.
Drafted No. 4 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, Westbrook would go on to post one of the more unique statistical careers in league history. A 6’3″ point guard, Westbrook ends his career with 25,000 career points and 10,000 career assists, figures only LeBron James has reached.
He holds the record for triple-doubles in a season (42) and for a career (209). Over a 17-year career with stops in Oklahoma City, Houston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Denver and Sacramento, his legend truly took shape with the Thunder.
He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals, and in 2016-17, led the franchise to a surprising playoff berth while also becoming the second player ever to average a triple-double for an entire season with 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
“Russell Westbrook is the ultimate competitor,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. “His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008 and he elevated the confidence and inspired our community in every year thereafter.”
