r/RussellWestbrook

This sub is now my therapy, as I have spent the last 15 years obsessively watching Russell Westbrook play basketball and now it is over. Cheers to all the fellow freaks who’ve remained loyal to the GOAT from Seattle to OKC to Houston to DC to LA to Inglewood to Sacramento and all the All Star Games and Met Galas in between.

I could reminisce into the void forever. Watched 82 games most seasons since 2010-11, over a thousand games. All the highlight reels are just hazy memories. The MVP run however was permanent crack, an hour of great highlights. Retire in peace king

Hello, I've been a fan of Mr. Why Not since I was 12, unfortuantely growing up and being from a small European country I didn't have the funds to be able to get any sort of merch of his besides his shoes (the Why not zer0.2 Future History). Does anyone know where Russell Westbrook merch is being sold or, due to his retirement, if his OKC Jersey is going to be released again as an homage?

I spent years joking that 2017 Russell Westbrook was the greatest basketball player of all time.

At some point I think I stopped joking.

31.6 points.

10.7 rebounds.

10.4 assists.

42 triple doubles.

MVP.

A 6'3 point guard grabbing rebounds over centers and then running down the court like he remembered he left the stove on.

That season made me love basketball differently.

And now Russ is actually retired.

Man.

I knew this day was coming but I still don't really like seeing the words.

Russell Westbrook retired.

It just sounds wrong.

For basically my entire basketball watching life, Russ was just... there.

Flying down the court.

Screaming after dunks.

Rocking the baby.

Missing a completely insane jumper and then coming back 30 seconds later and doing something that made you forgive him immediately.

Watching Russ was stressful.

Very stressful actually.

Probably medically irresponsible.

There were nights where he would take a pull up three and I would age from 17 to 46 before the ball reached the rim.

But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Because he made basketball feel alive.

You could complain about efficiency.

You could complain about turnovers.

You could complain about shot selection.

Trust me, I did all three.

Sometimes in the same possession.

But you could never say the guy didn't care.

Russ played a random game in January like somebody told him his entire bloodline depended on getting that rebound.

And that's what I'll remember.

Not the arguments.

Not the stat padding debates.

Not people posting true shooting percentage graphs under every highlight.

I'll remember being younger and watching this dude throw himself at the rim with absolutely zero concern for his own wellbeing.

I'll remember checking the box score and seeing something stupid like 48 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists and somehow not even being surprised anymore.

I'll remember 2017.

I'll remember the game winner in Denver.

I'll remember the screaming.

I'll remember the anger.

I'll remember the ridiculous outfits that made me realize I dress like an unemployed substitute teacher.

I'll even remember the bricks.

Okay maybe not all the bricks.

Some things should stay buried.

But seriously, Russ gave basketball something that numbers can't really explain.

He made you feel something.

Sometimes happiness.

Sometimes disbelief.

Sometimes extreme confusion.

Sometimes all three within 45 seconds.

There will obviously be better players.

There already were better players.

I know.

Please don't start typing.

But I don't know if there will ever be another player who felt like Russell Westbrook.

There was only one guy crazy enough to play basketball like the clock was permanently at 0:01.

And now he's done.

18 seasons.

209 triple doubles.

An MVP.

A Hall of Fame career.

And an entire generation of kids who definitely tried to dunk because of him despite having a 14 inch vertical.

Including me.

Thank you Russ.

For the triple doubles.

For the dunks.

For the terrible shots.

For the impossible shots.

For making random regular season games feel important.

For giving us something to argue about for almost two decades.

And especially for 2017.

My GOAT.

Not because he was actually the greatest basketball player who ever lived.

But because sometimes your favorite player doesn't have to be.

Sometimes he just has to be the guy who made you fall in love with the game.

Why not?

Goodbye Russ.