Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday through a video posted to his social media accounts. Per multiple reports, the clip was narrated by Michael B. Jordan and recapped Westbrook's career while referencing him stepping away "on (his) own terms," though the video did not explicitly mention retirement.
Westbrook retires as the all-time leader in triple-doubles after 18 seasons in the league. Yahoo Sports noted his decline from NBA centerpiece to free-agent afterthought, while one outlet described his retirement as coming "after 18 seasons" with a former connection to the Sacramento Kings as a former MVP.
Separately, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that a rumor linking Westbrook to Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv is "laughably false," according to a source close to the situation. Stein noted the report came from a dubious source and marked the second time in as many years such a connection had circulated on social media. The reporting also touched on trade rumors involving other players including Peyton Watson and the Cavaliers, though details remained limited.