History of Russell Westbrook in Timeline
Russell Westbrook III is a professional basketball player renowned for his explosiveness and intensity. An NBA All-Star nine times, he was named MVP in 2017. He's a nine-time All-NBA Team member, two-time scoring leader, three-time assists leader, and two-time All-Star Game MVP. Westbrook is one of three players to average a triple-double for a season, achieving it four times. He holds the NBA record for career triple-doubles and most career rebounds by a guard. In 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, solidifying his place among basketball's elite.
1988: Triple-Doubles
In 2016, Russell Westbrook recorded his 15th triple-double of the season and 34th of his career, amassing the most triple-doubles by a player in a season since 1988–89, when Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan achieved similar feats.
May 2004: Death of Khelcey Barrs III
In May 2004, Khelcey Barrs III, Russell Westbrook's best friend, died from an enlarged heart during a pick-up game. This event significantly impacted Westbrook's determination to excel.
January 6, 2006: Career-Best 51 Points
On January 6, 2006, Russell Westbrook registered a career-best 51 points at Carson during his senior year of high school.
2006: Freshman Year at UCLA
In 2006, Russell Westbrook arrived at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and wore number 0, as his high school jersey number 4 was already taken. He played as a backup, averaging 3.4 points.
2007: UCLA Lost to Florida in Final Four
In 2007, UCLA, with Westbrook on the team, advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament but lost to eventual national champion Florida with a score of 76–66.
2008: NBA All-Rookie First Team
In 2008, Russell Westbrook finished fourth in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
2008: NBA Draft
In 2008, Russell Westbrook was selected with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.
2008: UCLA Lost to Memphis in Final Four
In 2008, UCLA, with Westbrook on the team, advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament but lost to Memphis with a score of 78–63.
2009: First Player Since LeBron James to Have Three Straight Triple-Doubles
On February 27, 2015, in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Westbrook recorded 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to become the first player to have three straight triple-doubles since LeBron James did so in 2009.
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, showcasing his offensive capabilities.
2010: FIBA World Championship Gold Medal
In 2010, Russell Westbrook represented the United States national team and won a gold medal in the FIBA World Championship.
2010: Westbrook selected to FIBA World Championship team
In 2010, Russell Westbrook was selected to the FIBA World Championship team in Istanbul, Turkey, where Team USA won its first World Championship since 1994.
2011: 2011-12 Season Start
Due to the lockout, the 2011–12 NBA season started on Christmas Day.
2011: First NBA All-Star Game Appearance
In 2011, Russell Westbrook was selected by NBA head coaches as a Western Conference reserve for the NBA All-Star Game, marking his first all-star appearance.
January 9, 2012: Signed 5-Year Extension with Oklahoma City Thunder
On January 9, 2012, Russell Westbrook signed a 5-year, $80 million extension to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder through the 2016-17 season.
March 23, 2012: Career-High 45 Points Against Minnesota Timberwolves
On March 23, 2012, Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 45 points in a double overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
October 2012: Westbrook signed with Jordan Brand
In October 2012, Russell Westbrook signed with the Jordan Brand.
2012: Olympics Gold Medal
In 2012, Russell Westbrook represented the United States national team and won a gold medal in the Olympics.
2012: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation established
In 2012, Russell Westbrook started the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, promoting community-based education and family service programs while pushing the younger generation to be self-confident.
2012: Westbrook wins Olympic gold medal
In 2012, Russell Westbrook was selected to play for the Summer Olympic team in London, where he won a gold medal.
2012: NBA All-Star Game
In 2012, Westbrook was selected for the NBA All-Star Game.
2012: NBA Finals Appearance
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: Right Knee Injury
On April 25, 2013, during a playoff game against the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook injured his right knee after a collision with Patrick Beverley, resulting in a slight tear in his right meniscus.
April 27, 2013: Knee Surgery
On April 27, 2013, Russell Westbrook underwent surgery to repair the slight tear in his right meniscus and was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs.
November 2013: Westbrook Signed with Kings and Jaxs Boxer Briefs
In November 2013, Russell Westbrook signed with Kings and Jaxs Boxer Briefs and with PepsiCo to become the global face of Mountain Dew Kickstart.
2013: Westbrook tears right meniscus
In 2013, Russell Westbrook tore his right meniscus.
2013: Second surgery on his right knee
Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Westbrook had a second surgery on his right knee, which set back his return to basketball.
February 20, 2014: Return to Lineup
On February 20, 2014, Russell Westbrook returned to the Oklahoma City Thunder's lineup after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, playing with limited minutes for the rest of the season.
May 27, 2014: Game 4 Performance
On May 27, 2014, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Russell Westbrook recorded 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals in a victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
2014: Team Missed Playoffs
In 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder finished ninth in the West with a 45–37 record and missed the playoffs.
2014: Fractured Metacarpal
In the 2014-15 season, after scoring 38 points in the opener, Russell Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand during the following game against the Los Angeles Clippers and missed 14 games.
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.
October 30, 2015: Scored 40 Points Against Orlando Magic
On October 30, 2015, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant each scored 40 points against the Orlando Magic to begin the 2015–16 season.
2015: Westbrook named Marketing Creative Director of True Religion
In 2015, Russell Westbrook was named Marketing Creative Director of the denim brand True Religion.
August 4, 2016: Westbrook signed 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: All-Star Game MVP Award
In 2016, Russell Westbrook earned his second All-Star Game MVP award in a 196–173 win by the West, recording 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals in 22 minutes.
2016: NBA Most Valuable Player Award
In 2016, Russell Westbrook earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) for the 2016–17 season.
2016: Westbrook launches Honor the Gift brand
In 2016, Russell Westbrook launched the unisex streetwear brand Honor the Gift, paying tribute to his upbringing in Hawthorne and Los Angeles.
2016: Contract through the 2016-17 season
On January 9, 2012, Russell Westbrook signed a 5-year, $80 million extension to remain with the Oklahoma City Thunder through the 2016-17 season.
June 26, 2017: Westbrook named NBA MVP
On June 26, 2017, Russell Westbrook was named the NBA Most Valuable Player, the first winner from a team with fewer than 50 wins since Moses Malone in 1982.
September 29, 2017: Westbrook signed contract extension with the Thunder.
On September 29, 2017, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension with the Thunder, starting with the 2018–19 season, which was 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.
2017: Westbrook signed extension with Jordan Brand
In 2017, Russell Westbrook signed a 10-year extension with Jordan Brand.
2017: NBA rule change affected free throws
In 2017, an NBA rule change was implemented before the 2017–18 season to reduce wasted time, the rule stipulated that the free throw shooter may not walk back beyond the three-point line in between free throws, which decreased Russell Westbrook's free throw percentage.
March 13, 2018: Westbrook recorded his 100th triple-double
On March 13, 2018, Russell 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.
September 2018: Westbrook underwent a procedure on his right knee
In September 2018, Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to deal with inflammation in his right knee, causing him to miss the preseason and the first two regular season games of the 2018–2019 season.
January 10, 2019: Westbrook recorded career-high assists
On January 10, 2019, Russell Westbrook recorded a career-high 24 assists along with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 154–147 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
July 16, 2019: Westbrook 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: Westbrook made his Rockets debut
On October 24, 2019, Russell Westbrook made his debut with 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: Westbrook passes Magic Johnson for second all time in career triple-doubles
On October 26, 2019, in his second game as a Rocket, Russell Westbrook passed Magic Johnson to become second all-time in career triple-doubles 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 change in his NBA career path.
January 9, 2020: Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City as a visitor
On January 9, 2020, Russell Westbrook made his return to Oklahoma City as a visitor for the first time, scoring 34 points in a 113–92 loss.
December 2, 2020: Westbrook traded to the Washington Wizards
On December 2, 2020, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 lottery-protected first-round draft pick.
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: Westbrook recorded 30-10-20 triple-double
On March 30, 2021, Russell Westbrook became the first player since Magic Johnson in 1988 to record a 30–10–20 triple-double, with 35 points, 21 assists, and 14 rebounds in a 132–124 win over the Indiana Pacers.
August 6, 2021: Westbrook traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
On August 6, 2021, Russell 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 had been traded and made the Lakers his fourth team in three years.
2021: Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Russell Westbrook was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, recognizing his significant contributions to basketball.
2021: Trade to Los Angeles Lakers
In 2021, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, joining another prominent NBA team.
2021: Westbrook's production debut and autobiographical documentary
In 2021, Russell Westbrook's autobiographical documentary, Passion Play: Russell Westbrook, debuted on Showtime. Also, in 2021, Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre received three Primetime Emmy nominations.
January 4, 2022: Westbrook has a game without turnovers
On January 4, 2022, Russell Westbrook had his first game without turnovers since March 14, 2016, in a 122–114 win over the Sacramento Kings.
April 5, 2022: Lakers eliminated from playoff contention
On April 5, 2022, the Lakers were defeated by the Phoenix Suns, eliminating the team from obtaining a playoff berth. It was the first time since 2015 that Westbrook missed the playoffs.
August 1, 2022: Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz as his agent
On August 1, 2022, after severing ties with Thad Foucher, Russell Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports as his agent.
November 2, 2022: Westbrook described his new role coming off the bench as 'beneficial for everybody'
On November 2, 2022, Russell Westbrook described his new role coming off the bench as "'beneficial for everybody'", according to CBS Sports.
2022: Traded to Utah Jazz and signed with Los Angeles Clippers
In the 2022-23 season, Russell Westbrook was traded to and bought out by the Utah Jazz before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.
January 15, 2023: Westbrook set record for most triple-doubles off the bench
On January 15, 2023, Russell Westbrook put up 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists off the bench in a 113–112 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, marking his fourth career triple-double off the bench and setting a record for the most triple-doubles off the bench in NBA history.
February 9, 2023: Westbrook traded to the Utah Jazz
On February 9, 2023, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. At the time of the trade, he was averaging 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds with the Lakers.
February 22, 2023: Westbrook signed with the Los Angeles Clippers
On February 22, 2023, Russell Westbrook signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, reuniting with his former Thunder teammate Paul George.
July 6, 2023: Westbrook re-signed with the Clippers
On July 6, 2023, Russell Westbrook re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on 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 Russell 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: Wore Jersey Number 4
In 2023–24 season, Russell Westbrook finally wore the number 4 jersey.
January 1, 2024: Westbrook passes 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: Westbrook Ejected from Game
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 of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, which resulted in a 101–90 loss.
July 18, 2024: Westbrook 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: Westbrook Signed with Denver Nuggets
On July 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets.
November 6, 2024: Westbrook scores 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 over his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2024: Traded to Utah Jazz then signed with Denver Nuggets
In the summer of 2024, Russell Westbrook was again traded to the Utah Jazz and waived preceding his signing with the Denver Nuggets for the 2024–25 season.
January 10, 2025: Westbrook records triple-double in win over Nets
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, with teammate Nikola Jokić also recording a triple-double, marking the first time in NBA history that a pair of teammates each recorded a triple-double multiple times in a season.
January 2025: Westbrook's career statistics
As of January 2025, Russell Westbrook has averaged 30.5% on three-point field goal attempts and 3.9 turnovers per game during his career.
January 2025: Westbrook's Free Throw Percentage
As of January 2025, Russell Westbrook's free throw percentage dropped from 82.3% for the nine years prior to the rule change, to 68.5% for the 7 1/2 years since the 2017-18 NBA season when a rule was implemented to reduce wasted time, stipulating that the free throw shooter may not walk back beyond the three-point line in between free throws.
May 27, 2025: Westbrook undergoes hand surgery
On May 27, 2025, Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on his right hand to repair multiple ligament tears.
October 16, 2025: Westbrook signed with the Sacramento Kings
On October 16, 2025, Russell Westbrook signed a one-year, minimum salary contract with the Sacramento Kings.
November 6, 2025: Westbrook holds NBA record for regular-season triple-doubles
As of November 6, 2025, Russell Westbrook holds the NBA record for the most regular-season triple-doubles with 204.
2025: Signed with Sacramento Kings
Russell Westbrook signed with the Sacramento Kings for the 2025–26 season.
2025: Westbrook's 18th NBA season
The 2025–26 season marked Russell Westbrook's 18th season in the NBA.
January 3, 2026: Westbrook becomes point guard with most career points scored
On January 3, 2026, Russell Westbrook scored 17 points, 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.
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