Westbrook Retires

[Donoghus]

A polarizing player for sure but had a helluva career.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
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3m
After 18 NBA seasons, Russell Westbrook has retired. A legendary career: NBA?s top 75, 2017 league MVP, nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, USA Olympic Gold Medalist and the all-time record for triple-doubles.

[Birdman]

First ballot HOF?

[Donoghus]

First ballot HOF?

Absolutely.

[Vermont Green]

Only three players in NBA history have averaged a triple-double for an entire regular season: Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, and Nikola Jokić. 

Westbrook accomplished the feat four times?first in 2016?17 (winning MVP with 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG), and again in 2017?18, 2018?19, and 2020?21 with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards.

Yes, triple doubles involve some level of stat padding, but it is still an amazing feat to average it for a season, much less 4 seasons, 3 in a row.  Oscar Robinson did it once and Jokic twice, although Jokic may not be done.  I think it will be a while before we see someone match Westbrook.

[mef730]

Maybe if the Celtics act fast, they can still trade for him.