Russell Westbrook has amusing reaction to retirement talk

New Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook has no intention to walk from the sport of basketball, even as he bounces around from team to team.

In the 2025-26 season, the former MVP will play for his seventh different franchise since the Oklahoma City Thunder traded him to the Houston Rockets in 2019-20. This summer, it seemed his career was drawing to a close, as several teams reportedly declined the idea of signing him. However, Westbrook landed a deal with the Kings at the start of training camp, prolonging his career by another year.

Russell Westbrook not ready to retire

After a practice session on Sunday, Westbrook was asked if he plans to retire after the 2025-26 season. 

"Yeah, right," Westbrook smirked with a nod, via ABC10's Matt George. 

The response was very on-brand for a player who has always marched to the beat of his own drum with immense belief in himself. 

When Kevin Durant departed from the Thunder, for example, many doubted Westbrook's ability to lead the franchise. He would respond by averaging a triple-double and leading OKC to the playoffs. 

Westbrook was again written off in 2022 after his infamous stint with the Los Angeles Lakers ended. The athletic guard would go on to excel as a sixth man for the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, proving to be a team-first player. 

Russell Westbrook has chip on his shoulder

Now, Westbrook is at a crossroads again. As others prepare to write his basketball obituary, Westbrook grows more confident.

"To be honest, it's really been like this my whole career," Westbrook said of people doubting him, via NBC Sports Bay Area. "It's nothing new, unfortunately. I'm grateful and blessed for the doubt, the 'if I can and will play.' I know what I'm capable of when given the opportunity. So when the season starts, I'm going to do what I've always done: compete."

Westbrook added that some people are going to "hate it" when he steps onto the court and gives maximum effort, and that it's a sentiment he has dealt with for nearly two decades.

"That's life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident."

Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds for the Nuggets last season. He played a critical role in helping Denver beat the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, amassing 16 points, five steals and five assists in the winner-take-all Game 7 victory.