Russell Westbrook is rightfully proud following an 18-season Hall of Fame career during which he was an MVP, two-time scoring champion and nine-time All-NBA. He earned the right to walk away on his terms.
Westbrook was offered a two-year contract by the Washington Wizards this summer but chose to turn it down and retire, Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
It's understandable that Westbrook, 37, decided to walk away. First, this was very likely a minimum contract, and odds are the second year was not fully guaranteed.
However, the larger issue might have been the role. Westbrook wants to start and play meaningful minutes (he started 58 of 64 games for the Kings last season), but Washington is loaded with guards, particularly young guards. Trae Young was just handed an oversized contract this offseason and will start at the point, likely next to Kyshawn George. Behind them are Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson, plus Will Riley can play some two-guard/wing in big lineups. And that's not even getting to the team wanting to put the ball in No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa's hands as much as possible.
Westbrook would have been a mentor and limited role player on this team, and that's just not how he sees himself, it's not the role he wanted to play. Westbrook reportedly had some talks about returning to Sacramento as well, but again, that would have been in a backup and mentor role behind rookie Darius Acuff.
So Westbrook chose to walk away. Next stop, Hall of Fame.