History of Russell Westbrook in Timeline
Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player currently playing point guard for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. He debuted in the NBA in 2008 and rose to prominence as a star with the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his career, he has played for six NBA teams, showcasing his talents across the league.
1982: MVP Awarded to Player on Team with Fewer Than 50 Wins
On June 26, 2017, Westbrook was named the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He was the first winner from a team with fewer than 50 wins since Moses Malone in 1982.
November 12, 1988: Russell Westbrook III Born
On November 12, 1988, Russell Westbrook III was born. He later became a professional basketball player.
1988: Most Triple-Doubles Since 1988-89 Season
In 2016, Westbrook recorded his 15th triple-double of the season, amassing the most triple-doubles by a player in a season since the 1988-89 season.
1989: Longest Triple-Double Streak Since 1989
In 2016, on December 9, Russell Westbrook recorded his seventh straight triple-double, the longest streak since Michael Jordan in 1989.
May 2004: Death of Khelcey Barrs III
In May 2004, Russell Westbrook's best friend, Khelcey Barrs III, passed away due to an enlarged heart during a pick-up game, profoundly impacting Westbrook.
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.
2006: Freshman Year at UCLA
In 2006, Russell Westbrook began his freshman year at UCLA, playing as a backup and focusing on defense.
2007: UCLA Lost to Florida in Final Four
In 2007, UCLA advanced to the Final Four, losing to eventual national champion Florida, 76-66.
2008: Rookie Season
In 2008, Russell Westbrook averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in his rookie season.
2008: UCLA Lost to Memphis in Final Four
In 2008, UCLA advanced to the Final Four, losing 78-63 to Memphis.
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.
2009: First season with Harden
In 2009, James Harden spent his first three seasons in the league on the Thunder with Westbrook.
2009: Lebron James Triple Doubles
In 2009, Lebron James had three straight triple-doubles. Russell Westbrook had three straight triple-doubles on February 27, in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
November 26, 2010: Career-High 43 Points
On November 26, 2010, Russell Westbrook scored a then-career-high 43 points against the Indiana Pacers.
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.
2011: First All-Star Appearance
In 2011, Russell Westbrook was selected as a Western Conference reserve for the NBA All-Star Game, marking his first all-star appearance.
2011: NBA All-Star Game Selection
In the 2011-12 season, Westbrook was selected to participate in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.
March 23, 2012: Career-High 45 Points
On March 23, 2012, Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 45 points in a double overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
October 2012: Signs with Jordan Brand
In October 2012, Westbrook signed with the Jordan Brand, appearing in a commercial with Champs.
2012: NBA Finals Appearance
In 2012, Russell Westbrook appeared in the NBA Finals as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they lost to the Miami Heat.
2012: Olympics Gold Medal
In 2012, Russell Westbrook represented the United States national team and won a gold medal in the Olympics.
2012: NBA All-Star Game
In 2012, Russell Westbrook was selected for the NBA All-Star Game.
2012: NBA Finals with the Thunder
In 2012, Westbrook played with James Harden in the NBA Finals with the Thunder.
2012: Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation
In 2012, Westbrook started the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation to promote community-based education and family service programs.
April 25, 2013: Knee Injury
On April 25, 2013, 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 on his right knee and was declared out for the remainder of the playoffs.
November 2013: Endorsement Deals
In November 2013, Westbrook signed endorsement deals with Kings & Jaxs Boxer Briefs and became the global face of Mountain Dew Kickstart.
2013: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for the 2013–14 Nets
In 2013, the pair of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce played for the Brooklyn Nets
2013: Second Knee Surgery
Prior to the start of the 2013-14 season, Westbrook had a second surgery on his right knee, setting back his return to basketball.
February 20, 2014: Return to Lineup
On February 20, 2014, Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
May 27, 2014: 40 Points, 10 Assists, 5 Steals
On May 27, 2014, in a Game 4 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, Russell Westbrook recorded 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals.
2014: NBA Scoring Leader
In 2014, Russell Westbrook led the NBA in scoring for the 2014-15 season, showcasing his offensive prowess.
2014: Misses All-Star Game
In 2014, Westbrook was not named to the All-Star Game for the first time since that year.
2014: Thunder Miss Playoffs
In 2014-15, the Oklahoma City Thunder missed the playoffs, finishing ninth in the West with a 45-37 record.
2014: Fractured Hand
In the 2014-15 season, after scoring 38 points in the season opener, Russell Westbrook suffered a small fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand.
February 4, 2015: Tied Career-High 45 Points
On February 4, 2015, Russell Westbrook tied his career-high with 45 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
October 30, 2015: 40 Points Each with Durant
On October 30, 2015, to begin the 2015-16 season, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant each scored 40 points against the Orlando Magic.
2015: True Religion Creative Director
In 2015, Westbrook was named Marketing Creative Director of the denim brand True Religion.
March 14, 2016: Last Game Without Turnovers
On March 14, 2016, was Westbrook's last game without turnovers until January 4, 2022.
August 4, 2016: Contract Extension with Thunder
On August 4, 2016, Russell Westbrook signed a three-year, $85.7 million contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2016: Declined Olympic Invitation
In 2016, Russell Westbrook declined an invitation to join the Olympic team.
2016: NBA Most Valuable Player
In 2016, Russell Westbrook was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2016–17 season, recognizing his outstanding performance.
2016: All-Star Game MVP
In 2016, Russell Westbrook was voted to start in his first All-Star Game and earned his second All-Star Game MVP award, becoming the first player in All-Star history to win consecutive MVPs outright.
2016: Historic 2016-17 Season
In 2016, Westbrook had a historic season, continuing into the Thunder's season opener against the New York Knicks on October 19.
2016: Honor the Gift Launch
In 2016, Westbrook launched the unisex streetwear brand Honor the Gift, paying tribute to his upbringing in Hawthorne and Los Angeles.
June 26, 2017: NBA Most Valuable Player Award
On June 26, 2017, Russell Westbrook was named the recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
September 29, 2017: Westbrook Signs $205 Million 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 the time.
2017: Jordan Brand Extension
In 2017, Westbrook signed a 10-year extension with Jordan Brand, marking the largest total endorsement deal for any athlete sponsored by the brand.
2017: NBA Rule Change
In 2017, an NBA rule change affected Westbrook's free throw routine, causing his free throw percentage to drop from 82.3% to 68.5% as of January 2025.
2017: Westbrook Contract Expire Speculation
In 2017, trade speculation began swirling around Westbrook, whose contract was set to expire.
March 13, 2018: Westbrook Records 100th Triple-Double
On March 13, 2018, Russell Westbrook became the fourth player in NBA history to record 100 triple-doubles in a 119–107 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
September 2018: Westbrook Undergoes Knee Procedure
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.
2018: Wizards make playoffs
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.
January 10, 2019: Westbrook Records Career-High 24 Assists
On January 10, 2019, Russell Westbrook recorded a career-high 24 assists, along with 24 points and 13 rebounds, in a double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
July 16, 2019: Westbrook Traded to Houston Rockets
On July 16, 2019, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul, protected first-round picks, and first-round pick swaps, reuniting him with former Thunder teammate James Harden.
October 24, 2019: Westbrook's Rockets Debut
On October 24, 2019, Russell Westbrook made his debut for the Houston Rockets in a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the team with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
October 26, 2019: Westbrook Passes Magic Johnson 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.
2019: Trade to Houston Rockets
In 2019, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets, marking a new chapter in his NBA career.
2019: Suspension of the NBA season
In 2019, the NBA season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
January 9, 2020: Westbrook Returns to Oklahoma City as a Visitor
On January 9, 2020, Russell Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City for the first time as a visitor, scoring 34 points in a loss.
December 2, 2020: Westbrook Traded to 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: Criticism for play with the Lakers
As his first season with the Lakers progressed, Westbrook received criticism for his perceived poor quality of play during the 2020 season.
2020: Traded 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 Records 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.
August 6, 2021: Westbrook Traded to 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 draft rights, becoming his fourth team in three years.
2021: Traded to Los Angeles Lakers
In 2021, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, joining another prominent NBA team.
2021: Westbrook's third season missing the playoffs
In 2021, Westbrook had his third season in his career (and the first since 2015) in which he missed the playoffs.
2021: Production Debut
In 2021, Westbrook made his production debut with Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, which received three Primetime Emmy nominations. He also produced the short film Why Not? and his autobiographical documentary, Passion Play: Russell Westbrook.
January 4, 2022: First Game Without Turnovers Since 2016
On January 4, 2022, Russell Westbrook had his first game without turnovers since March 14, 2016, in a win over the Sacramento Kings.
April 5, 2022: Lakers Eliminated from Playoff Berth
On April 5, 2022, the Lakers were defeated by the Phoenix Suns, eliminating them from obtaining a playoff berth. This marked Westbrook's third season missing the playoffs.
July 2022: Westbrook severs ties
In July 2022, Westbrook severed ties with agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman.
August 1, 2022: Westbrook Signs with New Agent
On August 1, 2022, Russell Westbrook signed Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports as his agent after severing ties with Thad Foucher.
November 2, 2022: Westbrook Describes New Role as Beneficial
On November 2, 2022, Russell Westbrook described his new role coming off the bench as 'beneficial for everybody'.
2022: Plays for Los Angeles Clippers
In 2022, Russell Westbrook plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
January 15, 2023: Westbrook Sets Record for Most Triple-Doubles off the Bench
On January 15, 2023, Russell Westbrook recorded his fourth career triple-double off the bench, setting a record for the most triple-doubles off the bench in NBA history.
February 9, 2023: Westbrook Traded to Utah Jazz
On February 9, 2023, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.
February 22, 2023: Westbrook Signs with 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-Signs with Clippers
On July 6, 2023, Russell Westbrook re-signed with the Clippers to a two-year, $7.8 million contract.
July 2023: Coach Lue Praises Westbrook's effort and toughness
In July 2023, Clippers Coach Tyronn Lue praised Westbrook's effort and toughness, stating that Westbrook had 'saved' the Clippers during the final 20 games of the regular season following injuries to Paul George and others.
2023: Elimination from playoffs
In 2023 the Clippers were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in five games.
2023: Traded to Utah Jazz and Joined Clippers
In 2023, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz and subsequently bought out, later joining the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2022-23 season.
January 1, 2024: Westbrook Passes Ewing on All-Time Scoring List
On January 1, 2024, Russell Westbrook passed Patrick Ewing for 25th place on the league's all-time scoring list.
April 26, 2024: Westbrook Ejected from Playoff Game
On April 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook was ejected after receiving two technical fouls during Game Three of the first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
July 18, 2024: Westbrook Traded to Utah Jazz Again
On July 18, 2024, Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kris Dunn in a sign-and-trade. He was then waived on July 20.
July 26, 2024: Westbrook Signs with Denver Nuggets
On July 26, 2024, Russell Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets.
November 6, 2024: Win against Oklahoma City Thunder
On November 6, 2024, Russell Westbrook scored 29 points with six rebounds and six assists, shooting efficiently in a 124–122 win against his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2024: 17th Year in NBA
As of 2024, Russell Westbrook is in his 17th year in the NBA.
January 10, 2025: Triple-Double with Jokić
On January 10, 2025, Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 124–105 win over the Brooklyn Nets. His teammate Nikola Jokić also recorded a triple-double, marking the second time they've achieved this feat in the same season, making them the only pair of teammates in NBA history to accomplish that.
January 2025: Free Throw Percentage Decline
As of January 2025, Westbrook's free throw percentage has declined to 68.5% since an NBA rule change implemented before the 2017-18 season.
January 2025: Criticism
As of January 2025, Westbrook's three-point shooting and turnovers are sometimes mentioned when pundits criticize his play.
January 22, 2025: Most Regular-Season Triple-Doubles
As of January 22, 2025, Westbrook holds the NBA record for most regular-season triple-doubles with 202.
