Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Russell Westbrook

Discover the career path of Russell Westbrook, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Russell Westbrook III is a professional basketball player renowned for his athleticism and intensity. A nine-time NBA All-Star, he earned the 2016-17 NBA MVP Award. He's a nine-time All-NBA Team member, a two-time scoring champion, and a three-time assists leader. Westbrook is one of three players to average a triple-double for a season, achieving this four times, and he holds the NBA record for career triple-doubles and rebounds by a guard. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, solidifying his place among basketball's elite.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

January 6, 2006: Career-Best 51 Points at Carson

On January 6, 2006, during his senior year, Russell Westbrook registered a career-best 51 points at Carson, showcasing his growing potential as a basketball player.

2006: Freshman Year at UCLA

In 2006, upon arriving at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Russell Westbrook wore number 0 and played as a backup to Darren Collison during his freshman year.

July 5, 2008: Signing with Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder

On July 5, 2008, Russell Westbrook signed with the Seattle SuperSonics, which then relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder six days later, starting his NBA career.

2008: NBA Draft and Move to Oklahoma City

In 2008, Russell Westbrook was selected with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who then relocated to Oklahoma City that same week, marking the beginning of his professional career.

2008: UCLA Lost to Memphis in Final Four and Enters NBA Draft

In 2008, UCLA, with Russell Westbrook, lost to Memphis in the Final Four. Following this, Westbrook decided to forgo his final two years of college and enter the 2008 NBA draft.

2008: Rookie Season Stats

In 2008, during Russell Westbrook's rookie season, he averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, showcasing his early impact in the NBA.

March 2, 2009: First Career Triple-Double

On March 2, 2009, Russell Westbrook recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He was the first rookie since Chris Paul to achieve this feat.

2009: First Player since LeBron James to have Three Straight Triple-Doubles

In 2015, on February 27, Russell Westbrook became the first player since LeBron James in 2009 to record three straight triple-doubles. During that day, he scored 40 points, had 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

November 26, 2010: Career-High 43 Points Against Indiana Pacers

On November 26, 2010, Russell Westbrook scored a then-career-high 43 points against the Indiana Pacers, demonstrating his scoring ability.

2010: Selected to FIBA World Championship team

In 2010, Russell Westbrook was selected to the FIBA World Championship team in Istanbul, Turkey, and played a key role in Team USA's undefeated run, securing their first World Championship since 1994.

2011: Start of Lockout Season

Due to the lockout, the 2011-12 NBA season would start on Christmas Day.

2011: First NBA All-Star Game Selection

In 2011, Russell Westbrook was selected as a Western Conference reserve for the NBA All-Star Game, marking his first All-Star appearance.

January 9, 2012: 5-Year Contract Extension with Oklahoma City Thunder

On January 9, 2012, Russell Westbrook signed a 5-year, $80 million contract extension to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder through the 2016–17 season, solidifying his commitment to the team.

March 23, 2012: Career-High 45 Points Against Minnesota Timberwolves

On March 23, 2012, Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 45 points in a 149–140 double overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, showcasing his offensive capabilities.

2012: NBA All-Star Game Selection

In 2012, Russell Westbrook was selected for the NBA All-Star Game, marking another recognition of his skills and performance.

2012: NBA Finals Appearance with the Thunder

In 2012, as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook appeared in the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat.

April 25, 2013: Knee Injury Against Houston Rockets

On April 25, 2013, during a playoff game against the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook injured his right knee in a collision with Patrick Beverley, leading to a slight tear in his right meniscus.

April 27, 2013: Knee Surgery and Playoff Absence

On April 27, 2013, Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on his right knee and was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs, impacting the Thunder's postseason run.

February 20, 2014: Return to Lineup After Surgery

On February 20, 2014, Russell Westbrook returned to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, playing with limited minutes for the remainder of the season.

May 27, 2014: Game 4 Victory against San Antonio Spurs

On May 27, 2014, in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs, Russell Westbrook recorded 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals, contributing to a Thunder victory.

2014: NBA Scoring Leader

In 2014, Russell Westbrook was an NBA scoring leader for the 2014-15 season, showcasing his offensive prowess.

2014: Fracture of the Second Metacarpal

In 2014, after scoring 38 points in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Russell Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand and missed 14 games.

2014: Career-High 54 Points

On April 12, 2015, Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 54 points in a game against the Indiana Pacers, although the Thunder lost the game. Despite his efforts, the Thunder missed the playoffs.

February 4, 2015: Tied Career-High 45 Points

On February 4, 2015, Russell Westbrook tied his career-high with 45 points in a 102–91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, demonstrating his scoring ability.

October 30, 2015: Start of 2015-16 Season

On October 30, 2015, to begin the 2015–16 NBA season, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant each scored 40 points against the Orlando Magic.

August 4, 2016: Contract Extension with the Thunder

On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook signed a three-year, $85.7 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, becoming the focal point of the team.

2016: Historic 2016-17 Season

Continuing on from his historic 2016–17 season, Westbrook had a triple-double in the Thunder's season opener against the New York Knicks on October 19.

2016: All-Star Game MVP

In 2016, Russell Westbrook earned his second consecutive All-Star Game MVP award with 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals in 22 minutes of play.

2016: NBA Most Valuable Player Award

In 2016, Russell Westbrook earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) for the 2016–17 season.

2016: Contract Conclusion

In 2016, Russell Westbrook's 5-year contract signed in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder was nearing its end.

June 26, 2017: Named NBA Most Valuable Player

On June 26, 2017, Russell Westbrook was named the recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, marking the first winner from a team with fewer than 50 wins since Moses Malone in 1982.

September 29, 2017: Signed a Five-Year Contract Extension with the Thunder

On September 29, 2017, Russell 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.

March 13, 2018: Achieved 100 Career Triple-Doubles

On March 13, 2018, Westbrook recorded 32 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds in a 119–107 win over the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to record 100 triple-doubles.

January 10, 2019: Recorded a Career-High 24 Assists

On January 10, 2019, Westbrook recorded a career-high 24 assists to go with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 154–147 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

July 16, 2019: Traded to the Houston Rockets

On July 16, 2019, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul, two protected first-round picks, and two first-round pick swaps, reuniting him with former Thunder teammate James Harden.

October 24, 2019: Rockets Debut

On October 24, 2019, Westbrook made his debut for the Houston Rockets in a 117–111 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the team with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.

October 26, 2019: Second All-Time in Career Triple-Doubles

On October 26, 2019, in his second game as a Rocket, Westbrook became second all time in career triple-doubles, passing Magic Johnson with a 28-point, 13-assist and 10-rebound performance in a 126–123 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

2019: Trade to Houston Rockets

In 2019, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets, marking a new chapter in his NBA career.

January 9, 2020: Return to Oklahoma City as a Visitor

On January 9, 2020, Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City as a visitor for the first time, scoring 34 points in a 113–92 loss.

December 2, 2020: Traded to the Washington Wizards

On December 2, 2020, Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 lottery-protected first-round draft pick, amidst rumors that he and Harden wanted out from the Rockets.

2020: Trade to Washington Wizards

In 2020, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards after playing one season with the Houston Rockets.

March 30, 2021: Recorded a 30-10-20 Triple-Double

On March 30, 2021, Westbrook became the first player since Magic 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 the Indiana Pacers.

August 6, 2021: Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers

On August 6, 2021, Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson. This marked the third time Westbrook was traded, making the Lakers his fourth team in three years.

2021: Trade to Los Angeles Lakers

In 2021, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after a season with the Washington Wizards.

January 4, 2022: First Game without Turnovers Since March 14, 2016

On January 4, 2022, in a 122–114 win over the Sacramento Kings, Westbrook had his first game without turnovers since March 14, 2016.

August 1, 2022: Signed Jeff Schwartz as Agent

After severing ties with agent Thad Foucher in July 2022, Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports as his agent on August 1, 2022.

November 2, 2022: Described His New Role Off the Bench as Beneficial

On November 2, 2022, CBS Sports reported that Westbrook had described his new role coming off the bench as "'beneficial for everybody'".

2022: Trade to Utah Jazz and Signing with Los Angeles Clippers

In 2022, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz and subsequently bought out before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers later in the 2022–23 season.

January 15, 2023: Most Triple-Doubles Off The Bench in NBA History

On January 15, 2023, Westbrook put up 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists off the bench in a 113–112 loss to the Philadelphia 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.

February 9, 2023: Traded to the Utah Jazz

On February 9, 2023, Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.

February 22, 2023: Signed with the Los Angeles Clippers

On February 22, 2023, Westbrook signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, reuniting with his former Thunder teammate Paul George. Westbrook became a starter with the Clippers.

July 6, 2023: Re-signed with Clippers

On July 6, 2023, Russell Westbrook re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for a two-year, $7.8 million contract.

July 2023: Coach Lue Praised Westbrook's effort and toughness

In July 2023, Clippers Coach Tyronn 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 to Paul George and others.

2023: Jersey Number Change

In the 2023-24 NBA season, Russell Westbrook finally wore the number 4 jersey, something he was unable to do earlier in his career due to it being already taken.

January 1, 2024: Passed Patrick Ewing on all-time scoring list

On January 1, 2024, Russell Westbrook surpassed Patrick Ewing for 25th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

April 26, 2024: Ejected from Game Three

On April 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for fouling Luka Dončić and shoving P. J. Washington during Game Three of the first-round playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks, which the Clippers lost 101–90.

July 18, 2024: Traded to Utah Jazz

On July 18, 2024, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz alongside draft rights to Balša Koprivica, a second-round pick swap, and cash considerations in exchange for Kris Dunn.

July 26, 2024: Signed with Denver Nuggets

On July 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets.

November 6, 2024: Scored 29 points against former team

On November 6, 2024, Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, with six rebounds and six assists in a 124–122 win against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2024: Trades and Signing with Denver Nuggets

In the summer of 2024, Russell Westbrook was traded again to the Utah Jazz and then waived before signing with the Denver Nuggets for the 2024–25 season.

January 10, 2025: Recorded a triple-double

On January 10, 2025, Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 124–105 win over the Brooklyn Nets, in a game where teammate Jokić also recorded a triple-double, making them the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each record a triple-double in multiple games in a single season.

October 16, 2025: Signed with Sacramento Kings

On October 16, 2025, Russell Westbrook signed a one-year, minimum salary contract with the Sacramento Kings.

2025: Signing with Sacramento Kings

For the 2025-26 season, Russell Westbrook signed with the Sacramento Kings, adding another team to his NBA journey.

January 3, 2026: Became point guard with most career points scored

On January 3, 2026, Russell Westbrook scored 17 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists in a 129–102 loss to the Phoenix Suns, surpassing Oscar Robertson to become the point guard with the most career points scored in NBA history and moving into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.