The NBA’s next wave of retirements will eventually include some of the league’s biggest names, with Steph Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant all expected to be on the way out within the next five years. But one star has already stepped away: Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook, the former MVP and triple-double machine, announced his retirement in a move that caught plenty of people off guard. He had spent his career as one of the league’s most recognizable forces, and while he never won an NBA championship, the ending came earlier than many expected.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over,” Westbrook posted.
What made the decision even harder to read was what he said just days before. Westbrook made it clear he still loved the game and believed there was more basketball left in him.
“I love playing basketball. And if it happens, it works. That is my plan," Westbrook said.
Even after retirement, there were still options on the table. Westbrook had opportunities with other organizations, but he reportedly didn’t want to suit up for a team that wasn’t in position to contend. That opened the door for speculation about what a comeback could look like if he ever changed his mind.
Former All-Star Zach Randolph floated the Miami Heat as the kind of landing spot that would make sense if Westbrook decided to return.
“This man was supposed to be in the league for another 3-4 years at least. I'd like to see him with the Heat.
Brodie got a lot left in him. I just saw his little brother yesterday… He might be back,” Randolph said.
For now, Westbrook remains retired. But the idea of him coming back to chase a championship is still out there, and it’s easy to see why that possibility continues to linger.
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