Russell Westbrook’s retirement set off a wave of reaction on Wednesday, and among the voices weighing in was Silk The Shocker, who had high praise for the former Rockets guard.
Westbrook announced on social media that he is calling it a career after 18 NBA seasons. The 37-year-old leaves the league as the current triple-double king with 209 and as a member of the NBA’s top 75th team anniversary team.
His post, according to ESPN, included a career video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan.
“Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end,” Westbrook wrote. “You had to be there. And now it's over.”
From there, the tributes rolled in.
Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti called Westbrook “the ultimate competitor” in a statement, adding that “His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008, and he elevated the confidence and inspired our community in every year thereafter,”
Presti also said, “Russell will be as successful in his life after basketball as he was during his career because his qualities and gifts transfer. His impact on our community is still felt today, and he is beloved for his devotion as much as his talent. He built a Hall of Fame career not by making statements or simply by breaking records; he did it by showing us all the power of asking one simple question: Why Not?”
On NBA Today, Kendrick Perkins said the Thunder should do more than retire Westbrook’s jersey.
“Not only should he have his jersey retired in Oklahoma City, but he should have a statue out there as well,” Perkins said. “Because after SGA, Russ, in my eyes, is the 2nd-greatest Thunder of all time.”
LeBron James also chimed in, posting: “HELLUVA CAREER BRODIE,” James wrote, “HOF next!!”
At the time of the article, Kevin Durant had not publicly reacted to the retirement news, but his mother, Wanda, posted a message on Instagram for Westbrook.
“@russwest44 I ALREADY miss you. Your grit, your tenacity, your fire was always on display and something to see.
Always love for you and always will. Enjoy what's next!
God bless you ALWAYS. 🙏🏾❤️🌸🌹❤️🙏🏾"
Wanda and Westbrook have long shown affection for each other, including a moment when Westbrook and Durant were arguing on the court and Wanda called Westbrook over, leading to a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Silk The Shocker, who worked out with the Houston Rockets in the late 90s and early 2000s, said Westbrook’s impact went well beyond the box score in a conversation with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson.
“That guy is a real guy,” he said. “Genuine.
He did a lot for the community he’s from and a lot for these kids. He really wore his heart on his sleeve.
He didn’t just play basketball-even though he was good at that-he played with passion and he was passionate about these kids and changing lives. Being a great basketball player is one thing, but being a great role model is good, too.
He always extended his hand to the next generation, for sure. Definitely going to miss him.”
In Other News...
Tari Eason Just Put A New Twist On Houstons Tougher Offseason
The Rockets offseason had already taken on a tougher edge with the additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovi, moves that gave Houston a little more muscle and a little more shot-making around the roster. Smart arrives after declining a player option with the Lakers, while Bogdanovi came in on a one-year veteran minimum contract, underscoring how the front office has tried to balance experience with flexibility as it keeps shaping the team around its younger core.
Tari Easons new four-year extension now adds another layer to that summer for Houston, because the deal was supposed to be a straightforward sign of commitment to one of the clubs more valuable young pieces. Instead, the announcement has spilled into the public conversation in an entirely different way, with Eason and his mother both responding to the online criticism that followed. For a team trying to steady its next step, even a contract extension can turn into a reminder that nothing around the Rockets stays quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Face A Zion Decision Fans Never Wanted
Houstons offseason has already pushed the Rockets into one of those difficult roster conversations every contender eventually faces. The front office is weighing how hard to lean into the present, where Kevin Durant and the rest of the core can keep the team in the hunt, against the need to keep some long-term flexibility after injuries helped derail parts of last season.
One idea floating around the league underscores how complicated that balance can get. There have been reports of a possible framework that would involve Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr., but nothing has been confirmed and the Rockets are still sorting through the larger question of how aggressive they want to be. For a team trying to win now without emptying the cupboard for later, the next move could say as much about its direction as any move made on draft night. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Just Earned A Different Level Of NBA Respect
The leagues full 2026-27 schedule rollout offered another quiet measure of where Houston sits in the NBAs pecking order, and the answer is a lot higher than it used to be. With Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson anchoring the roster, the Rockets landed 21 nationally televised games, tying the Mavericks and putting them in a far more visible tier than the club occupied before this current group started to take shape.
It is still a long way from the kind of spotlight reserved for the Lakers, Knicks, 76ers and Spurs, who each checked in at 34, but the gap itself says something about how the league views Houston now. The Rockets have earned enough attention to be part of the national conversation on a regular basis, and the bigger question is whether this seasons version can turn that added exposure into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]