History of Russell Westbrook in Timeline
Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers. Known for his role as a point guard, Westbrook started his NBA journey in 2008 and rose to stardom with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Throughout his career, he has played for five different NBA teams.
1921: Tulsa Race Massacre
The Tulsa Race Massacre, a devastating event of racial violence, took place in 1921.
November 12, 1988: Russell Westbrook III is Born
Russell Westbrook III was born on November 12, 1988.
1988: Most Triple-Doubles Since 1988-89 Season
On March 22, 2016, Russell Westbrook recorded his 15th triple-double of the season, and 34th of his career, giving him the most triple-doubles by a player in a season since 1988-89, when Magic Johnson had 17 and Michael Jordan had 15.
1994: US Wins FIBA World Championship
In 1994, the US won the FIBA World Championship.
May 2004: Westbrook's Best Friend Passes Away
In May 2004, Westbrook's best friend, Khelcey Barrs III, died from an enlarged heart during a pick-up game.
January 6, 2006: Westbrook Scores Career-High 51 Points
On January 6, 2006, Westbrook recorded a career-best 51 points in a game at Carson.
2006: Westbrook Starts at UCLA
The next season, Collison was injured and Westbrook was named the starter for UCLA.
2007: UCLA Loses to Florida in Final Four
In 2007, UCLA lost to eventual national champion Florida in the Final Four.
July 5, 2008: Westbrook Signs with the Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 5, 2008.
2008: UCLA Loses to Memphis in Final Four, Westbrook Enters NBA Draft
In 2008, UCLA lost to Memphis in the Final Four. Westbrook then decided to forgo his final two years and enter the 2008 NBA draft.
2008: US Wins Olympic Gold Medal in Basketball
In 2008, the US won a gold medal in basketball at the Olympics.
2008: Westbrook Named to All-Rookie First Team
Westbrook finished fourth in the 2008–09 NBA Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA's NBA All-Rookie First Team.
2008: Westbrook Makes NBA Debut
Westbrook made his NBA debut in 2008 and became a star as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
March 2, 2009: Westbrook Records First Career Triple-Double
On March 2, 2009, Westbrook recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
November 26, 2010: Westbrook Scores Career-High 43 Points
On November 26, 2010, Westbrook scored a then-career-high 43 points against the Indiana Pacers.
2010: Westbrook Wins FIBA World Championship
In 2010, he was selected to the FIBA World Championship team in Istanbul, Turkey. Westbrook finished in the top five on the team in minutes per game, and top three in points and assists per game. Team USA went 9–0 to win its first World Championship since 1994.
2010: Westbrook Wins Gold in FIBA World Championship
Westbrook won a gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
2011: Westbrook Makes First All-Star Appearance
Westbrook was selected by NBA head coaches to be a Western Conference reserve for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. This was his first all-star appearance.
March 23, 2012: Career-High 45 Points
On March 23, 2012, Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 45 points in a 149–140 double overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
October 2012: Westbrook Signs with Jordan Brand
In October 2012, Westbrook signed with the Jordan Brand.
2012: Establishment of Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation
In 2012, Westbrook started the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation in honor of his childhood friend Khelcey Barrs III. The foundation is dedicated to promoting community-based education and family service programs while encouraging self-confidence in youth. He also began wearing a "KB3" wristband and featuring "KB3" on his sneakers as a tribute to his friend.
2012: US Qualifies for 2012 Olympics
In 2012, the US qualified for the summer Olympics in London.
2012: Westbrook Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal
Westbrook was also selected to play for the 2012 Summer Olympic team in London, where he won a second gold medal.
2012: Westbrook Wins Gold in the Olympics
Westbrook won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics.
2012: Westbrook and the Thunder Reach the NBA Finals
In 2012, Westbrook appeared in the NBA Finals as a member of the Thunder but lost to the Miami Heat.
April 25, 2013: Knee Injury
On April 25, 2013, during the second game of the playoffs series against the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook suffered a knee injury after colliding with Rockets guard Patrick Beverley. Despite the injury, Westbrook finished the game with 29 points.
April 27, 2013: Surgery and Playoffs Out
After injuring his knee on April 25, 2013, it was revealed that Russell Westbrook had suffered a tear in his right meniscus. He underwent surgery on April 27, 2013, and was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs.
November 2013: Westbrook Signs with Kings and Jaxs and PepsiCo
In November 2013, Westbrook signed with Kings and Jaxs Boxer Briefs and PepsiCo to become the global face of Mountain Dew Kickstart.
2013: Westbrook Tears Meniscus
In 2013, Westbrook tore his right meniscus.
February 20, 2014: Return to Lineup
After undergoing a second surgery on his right knee prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup on February 20, 2014. He played the rest of the season on limited minutes and sat out the second night of back-to-backs.
May 27, 2014: Impressive Game 4 Performance
During game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Russell Westbrook put on an impressive performance, recording 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals. Despite Westbrook's performance, the Thunder ultimately lost the series to the Spurs.
2014: Westbrook Becomes Two-Time NBA Scoring Leader
Westbrook is a two-time NBA scoring leader, having led the league in 2014–15 and 2016–17.
February 4, 2015: Tied Career-High 45 Points
On February 4, 2015, Russell Westbrook tied his career-high of 45 points in a 102-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
October 30, 2015: Westbrook and Durant Score 40 Points Each
To start the 2015-16 season, both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant scored 40 points each against the Orlando Magic on October 30, 2015.
2015: Westbrook Named Marketing Creative Director of True Religion
In 2015, Westbrook was named Marketing Creative Director of the denim brand True Religion.
August 4, 2016: Westbrook Signs Contract Extension with Thunder
On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook signed a three-year, $85.7 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, following the departure of Kevin Durant. This move solidified Westbrook's position as the team's centerpiece.
2016: Westbrook Wins NBA MVP Award
Westbrook earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) for the 2016–17 season.
2016: Westbrook Launches Streetwear Brand
In 2016, he launched the unisex streetwear brand Honor the Gift, which pays tribute to his years growing up in Hawthorne and Los Angeles.
2016: Westbrook Declines Olympic Team Invitation
Westbrook declined an invitation to join the 2016 Olympic team.
June 26, 2017: Westbrook Wins NBA Most Valuable Player Award
On June 26, 2017, Russell Westbrook was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. He became the first player since Moses Malone in 1982 to win the award while playing for a team that won fewer than 50 games.
September 29, 2017: Westbrook Signs Historic Contract Extension
On September 29, 2017, Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $205 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the largest guaranteed contract in NBA history at that time.
2017: Westbrook Signs Jordan Brand Extension
In 2017, Westbrook signed a 10-year extension with Jordan Brand that gave him the largest total endorsement deal of any athlete sponsored by the brand.
March 13, 2018: Westbrook Reaches 100 Career Triple-Doubles
On March 13, 2018, Russell Westbrook achieved his 100th career triple-double, joining Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Jason Kidd as the only players in NBA history to reach this milestone.
September 2018: Westbrook Undergoes Knee Procedure
In September 2018, Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to address inflammation in his right knee, causing him to miss the preseason and the first two games of the 2018-2019 regular season.
2018: Wizards' First Playoff Appearance Since 2018
After a 118–100 loss to the Celtics for the No. 7 spot in the play-in tournament, Westbrook and Bradley Beal led the Wizards to a blowout win 142–115 over the Pacers to clinch the last playoff spot and the Wizards' first playoff appearance since 2018. The Wizards lost to the top-seeded 76ers in five games in the first round.
January 10, 2019: Westbrook Records Career-High 24 Assists
On January 10, 2019, Russell Westbrook achieved a career-high 24 assists in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
July 16, 2019: Westbrook Traded to Houston Rockets
On July 16, 2019, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, two protected first-round picks, and two first-round pick swaps. This trade reunited Westbrook with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, James Harden.
October 24, 2019: Westbrook Debuts for Houston Rockets
On October 24, 2019, Russell Westbrook made his debut for the Houston Rockets in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
October 26, 2019: Westbrook Becomes Second All-Time in Triple-Doubles
On October 26, 2019, Russell Westbrook recorded his 139th career triple-double, surpassing Magic Johnson to become the second all-time leader in triple-doubles in NBA history.
2019: Westbrook Tests Positive for COVID-19
In 2019, Russell Westbrook tested positive for COVID-19 during the suspension of the NBA season due to the pandemic. He recovered and rejoined the Houston Rockets for the league's restart.
2019: Westbrook Traded to the Houston Rockets
In 2019, Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets.
January 9, 2020: Westbrook Returns to Oklahoma City
On January 9, 2020, Russell Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City for the first time since being traded, facing his former team as a member of the Houston Rockets.
December 2, 2020: Trade to the Washington Wizards
On December 2, 2020, amidst rumors that he and James Harden were unhappy and wanted out from the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 lottery-protected first-round draft pick.
2020: Lakers Championship Season
The Lakers had a 21–20 record at the halfway point of the regular season, and Westbrook was often a recipient of the blame for the team's struggles relative to its 2020 championship season.
2020: Westbrook Traded to the Washington Wizards
In 2020, Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards.
March 30, 2021: First Player Since Magic Johnson to Record 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, and 14 rebounds in a 132–124 win over the Indiana Pacers.
August 6, 2021: Trade 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 was the third time Westbrook was traded, and the Lakers became his fourth team in three years.
2021: Westbrook's Production Debut
In 2021, Russell Westbrook debuted as a producer with Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, a film inspired by his time playing in Oklahoma City. The film earned three Primetime Emmy nominations. That same year, he produced the short film Why Not? in collaboration with Jordan Brand and released his autobiographical documentary, Passion Play: Russell Westbrook, on Showtime.
2021: Westbrook Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
In 2021, Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
2021: Third Season Missing the Playoffs
The 2021–2022 season was the third season in Westbrook's career (and the first since 2015) in which he missed the playoffs.
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.
April 5, 2022: Lakers Eliminated From Playoffs
On April 5, 2022, the Lakers were defeated, 121–110, by the Phoenix Suns. This defeat eliminated the team from obtaining a playoff berth.
August 1, 2022: Signs with New Agent Jeff Schwartz
After severing ties with agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman in July 2022, Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports as his agent on August 1, 2022.
November 2, 2022: Comes off the Bench
On October 28, Westbrook came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season and chipped in with 18 points and eight rebounds in a 111–102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. On November 2, 2022, CBS Sports reported that Westbrook had described his new role coming off the bench as "'beneficial for everybody'".
2022: Westbrook Joins the Los Angeles Clippers
Later in the 2022-23 season, Westbrook joined the Los Angeles Clippers.
January 15, 2023: Sets Record for Most Triple-Doubles off the Bench
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: Trade to the Utah Jazz
On February 9, 2023, 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 on 41.7% shooting in a career-low 28.7 minutes per game.
February 22, 2023: Signs 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: Westbrook Re-signs with Clippers
On July 6, 2023, the Clippers re-signed Westbrook to a two-year, $7.8 million contract.
July 2023: Coach Tyronn Lue Praises Westbrook
In July 2023, 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: Westbrook Traded to the Utah Jazz and Joins the Los Angeles Clippers
In 2023, Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz. Later in the 2022-23 season, his contract was bought out and he joined the Los Angeles Clippers.
2023: Clippers Eliminated from Playoffs
In 2023, despite Westbrook averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in the playoffs, the Clippers were eliminated by the Suns in five games.
January 1, 2024: Westbrook Passes Patrick Ewing on All-Time Scoring List
On January 1, 2024, Westbrook passed Patrick Ewing for 25th place on the league's all-time scoring list.
April 9, 2024: Westbrook Sets NBA Record for Triple Doubles
As of April 9, 2024, Westbrook's 199 regular season triple-doubles are the most in NBA history. His 12 playoff triple-doubles put him at fourth-most all time.
April 2024: Westbrook's Play Receives Criticism and Praise
As of April 2024, pundits criticize Westbrook's three-point shooting and turnovers. Teammates and former teammates such as Paul George, Austin Reaves, and Bradley Beal have praised him for his leadership and strong work ethic.
April 26, 2024: Westbrook Ejected from Playoff Game
On April 26, 2024, Westbrook was ejected after being assessed with two technical fouls for fouling Luka Dončić and shoving P. J. Washington in Game Three of the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks a 101–90 loss.