Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder's all-time scoring leader, announced his retirement Aug. 12 after 18 years in the NBA.

Westbrook, 37, posted a video on social media narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan. "Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end," Westbrook wrote. "You had to be there. And now it's over."

He leaves the game as the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209, the franchise's all-time leader in points (18,859), assists (6,897), rebounds (5,760) and steals (1,442), and one of three Thunder players to win the league's Most Valuable Player award, alongside Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said in a statement that Westbrook's belief and fearlessness helped establish the franchise's foundation from its first day in 2008, according to the Journal Record. Presti said Westbrook built a Hall of Fame career not by making statements or breaking records but by embodying one question: Why Not?

The Seattle SuperSonics drafted Westbrook fourth overall in 2008. Days later, the franchise relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder, making him the first blue-chip rookie to wear the new uniform. He started on the bench, but after head coach P.J. Carlesimo was fired, Scott Brooks installed Westbrook as the starting point guard.

Alongside Durant, James Harden and Serge Ibaka, Westbrook became a pillar of the franchise's early core. He and Durant were teammates for eight seasons, leading the Thunder to four conference finals appearances and the 2012 NBA Finals, where they fell to LeBron James's Miami Heat, according to Yahoo Sports.

Through his first five seasons, Westbrook never missed a game, appearing in 394 consecutive regular-season contests.

Durant left for Golden State in 2016. Westbrook stayed.

His 2016-17 season ranks among the greatest individual campaigns in league history: 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. He became only the second player after Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a full season and won the MVP award. He went on to average a triple-double in four different seasons total, according to The Athletic.

Westbrook spent his final season with the Sacramento Kings, playing 64 games and averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 assists. League sources told The Stein Line that Washington offered him a two-year deal before his retirement, but Westbrook ended those talks, according to Yahoo Sports.

His career totals across 1,301 games: 20.9 points, 8.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game. Nine All-Star selections. Nine All-NBA nods. A member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. A gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2016.

Durant posted a tribute on X on Aug. 13. "Crazy thing is, he didn't say much, he just showed up. For 18 years," Durant wrote, adding, "keep inspiring in the next phase of life, champ."

Ibaka, drafted the same night as Westbrook in 2008, wrote on X on Aug. 14: "One of the best competitors ever and one of the best teammates I ever had."

Westbrook remains connected to Oklahoma City. He serves as a major investor and creative director for OKC for Soccer, and his Why Not? Foundation held a free basketball camp for kids ages 7-14 in Los Angeles in late July, according to ESPN. At the camp, a young participant asked Westbrook if he was a real NBA player. "Some days," he replied. "I used to be back in the day …"

Only one Thunder player has had his jersey retired: Nick Collison's No. 4, honored in 2019. The franchise is expected to eventually host a ceremony for Westbrook's No. 0 at Paycom Center, though no date has been announced.