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By Cameron Kiszla
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A future Hall of Famer has announced his retirement from basketball.
Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, posted a video to his social media accounts on Wednesday.
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The video, narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, had a caption that alluded to the surprise nature of the announcement, as many expected Westbrook to return for his 19th NBA season. He'd also been rumored to be considering playing in Israel, though the veracity of that claim was disputed by insiders.
"Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end," the caption reads. "You had to be there. And now it’s over."
The video, titled "The Museum of Unspoken Answers," shows Westbrook reminiscing on his career accomplishments and highlights, though he never actually says anything.
Instead, his unspoken feelings are relayed through smiles, looks to the camera and Jordan's narration.
"He didn't say a word, and somehow I understood everything," Jordan says at the close of the video.
What Is Russell Westbrook's Basketball Legacy?
Westbrook has a 99.93% chance to make the Hall of Fame, per Basketball Reference — a virtual lock.
He never won an NBA title, though he came close in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his longtime NBA home.
That team, which also featured fellow future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and James Harden, fell to the Miami Heat led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Westbrook was named MVP in 2017 after he averaged a triple double for the season, a feat only accomplished by one player before him: Oscar Robertson.
Westbrook averaged a triple double three more times in his career, twice more with the Thunder and once for the Washington Wizards. He led the NBA in scoring twice and assists three times.
After his 11 seasons in Oklahoma City, Westbrook was a bit of a journeyman, playing for the Wizards, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.
Though he ended his career largely coming off the bench, Westbrook will be remembered for his ball-dominant playing style and elite athleticism that created highlight-reel plays and gaudy statistics.
ESPN reports that Westbrook had offers to continue his NBA career, but "he chose to step away from the game on his own terms."
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