Russell Westbrook signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Denver Nuggets in 2024 after accepting the largest NBA pay cut ever. His career includes nine All-Star selections and multiple scoring and assists titles.
Following Kevin Durant's exit, Westbrook became the leading figure for the Thunder before being exchanged to the Houston Rockets in 2019. He continued his career with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately embracing a sixth-man role with the LA Clippers, demonstrating his versatility. In July 2024, Russell agreed to a single-season, $3.3 million contract with the Denver Nuggets, which matched the league minimum for a player with his tenure. Before this, his annual salary stood at $46 million, marking the most substantial salary reduction in NBA history. Across his professional journey, Westbrook has earned nine All-Star appearances, claimed two scoring titles, and led the league in assists three times. His aggressive, high-energy style of play is widely recognized, though it has drawn scrutiny for poor shooting efficiency and frequent turnovers. At his peak, Westbrook ranked among the world's highest-paid athletes, both through salaries and sponsorship deals. Over his first decade in the NBA, he accumulated $250 million solely from wages. As of now, his total NBA earnings surpass $350 million, with additional millions generated annually from endorsements. In June 2022, Westbrook chose to exercise his player option to stay with the Lakers for $47.1 million. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz in July 2024, waived shortly after, and then signed by the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.3 million contract. Born Russell Westbrook III on November 12, 1988, in Long Beach, California, he was raised in Hawthorne alongside his mother Shannon, father Russell Jr., and younger brother Raynard. He and his closest friend, Khelcey Barrs III, shared dreams of playing basketball together at UCLA. Tragically, Barrs passed away during a scrimmage in 2004 due to an undiagnosed enlarged heart while both attended Leuzinger High School. Westbrook joined Leuzinger’s varsity team as a junior and averaged 25.1 points per game in his senior year. He earned a basketball scholarship to UCLA, where he started as a sophomore and received Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors. In 2008, he left UCLA to enter the NBA Draft. The 2013 playoffs saw the Thunder finish as the Western Conference’s top seed. Westbrook injured his right knee in the second playoff game, yet scored 29 points. The next day, a minor meniscus tear was confirmed. He underwent surgery on April 27, 2013, missing the remainder of the postseason and requiring a second operation before the 2013–14 season started, causing him to miss the first two games. Additional arthroscopic surgery on his right knee shortly after Christmas kept him sidelined until February 20, 2014. In March 2014, the Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals but fell in game six. Early in the 2014–15 season, Westbrook fractured the second metacarpal in his right hand, missing 14 contests. In 2015, he set a career-best with 48 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, a record he broke the following month by posting 49 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He was named All-Star MVP after scoring 41 points in the 2015 All-Star Game. In 2021, Westbrook was dealt to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. Though his time there faced difficulties and public criticism, he later accepted a sixth-man role, illustrating his adaptability. In February 2023, he was traded to the Utah Jazz, waived, and shortly after signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Westbrook married Nina Earl, a former UCLA basketball player he met in college, on August 29, 2015. The couple welcomed their son Noah on May 16, 2017, and twin daughters Skye and Jordyn on November 17, 2018. He pays tribute to his late friend Khelcey by wearing a 'KB3' wristband and handwriting 'KB3' on his sneakers. The Jordan Why Not? Zer0.3, part of his signature line, includes a 'KB3' patch on each shoe. In July 2020, Westbrook tested positive for COVID-19 and returned to practice on July 20 after fulfilling the NBA’s quarantine requirements. In 2008, Westbrook was named to the All-Pac-10 Third Team, Pac-10 All-Tournament Team, Pac-10 All-Defensive Team, and CollegeInsider.com All-Defensive Team, while also earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. In 2017, he was honored as NBA Most Valuable Player. He has been selected as an NBA All-Star eight times and twice named All-Star Game MVP. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and the All-NBA First Team in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, he led the NBA in assists during 2018 and 2019 and captured the scoring title in 2015 and 2017. In May 2018, Westbrook purchased a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, for $19.75 million. By September 2022, he listed the property for approximately $30 million. He also owned multiple residences in Oklahoma, including a three-bedroom house sold for $426,900 in March 2020 and an 8,394-square-foot mansion listed for $1.7 million in November 2019.