Not every player in the NBA has the same career path. Some start out as lottery picks in the draw, and others have to grind to earn a spot. Furthermore, some players don’t choose when to retire.
It is a luxury in professional sports to be able to choose when your career is over. Nine-time all-star Russell Westbrook is well aware of that. The 36-year-old just completed his 17th professional season. Just weeks before the 2025-26 season, Westbrook is still not under contract. Recently, Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson called it “unfortunate” that Russell Westbrook is being treated this way.
Will Russell Westbrook get another chance in the NBA?
Oscar Robertson says he doesn’t understand why the league turned its back on Russell Westbrook
“It’s a shame that they do some of these things to him… Why would you blame him?”
(🎥 @allthesmokeprod /u/t @Linkingpoints )
pic.twitter.com/2NLWMJyUSm
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 8, 2025
Ahead of the 2024-2025 season, Russell Westbrook signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract with the Nuggets. He appeared in 75 of their 82 regular season games and made 36 starts. Westbrook averaged 27.9 minutes per game. The second year of that deal was a player option in 2025-26 that Westbrook declined. He did this to become an unrestricted free agent this season. So far, that plan has backfired for the veteran PG.
Less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season starts, Westbrook has yet to sign a contract. Recently, NBA legend and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson shared his thoughts on Russell Westbrook’s situation. Robertson was on the All The Smoke podcast. He called it “unfortunate” that Westbrook is being overlooked at this stage of his career. Podcast host Stephen Jackson highlighted how difficult it is to learn to be a player like Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook all-time rankings:
5th in points
2nd in rebounds
6th in assists
4th in shots made pic.twitter.com/CKmZLazWoA— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) October 7, 2025
Jackson explained how the MVP PG has a different level and motor than the average NBA player. That’s what has made Russell Westbrook so valuable in his career. His intensity and energy level on the pitch are second to none. Oscar Robertson also mentioned how Westbrook has been a scapegoat over the years. Teams like to blame Westbrook when they don’t reach their full potential.
Robertson specifically mentioned that the Thunder turned their backs on Westbrook. He kept their franchise relevant when James Harden and Kevin Durant left the team. Prior to the 2019-2020 season, OKC traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. That was after eleven seasons with the Thunder. Russell Westbrook deserves another chance in the NBA. The veteran PG may have to wait until the season starts to get his first opportunity in 2025-2026.
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