Russell Westbrookis taking his talents to the global basketball league Project B.
On Wednesday, the organization announced Westbrook is joining its ownership team as a co-founder and will sit on the board
of directors. The newly retired NBA star will also be the league's chief strategy officer. His new responsibilities include shaping Project B's basketball strategy and long-term vision, helping with strategic partnerships and creating opportunities for collaboration with other companies and initiatives.
“At every step of my career, what was most valuable to me was making sure everyone had a seat at the table. With Project B, we’re challenging the norm and bringing a new vision to the intersection of premium sport, culture, and entertainment," Westbrook said via release. "We're reimagining the experience with players not only as key value drivers, but also as shareholders and decision makers."
Westbrook's new ownership role with Project B is his first since retiring from the NBA after 18 seasons.
Westbrook announced his retirement from basketball in a video posted to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Aug. 12. He finished his career as the all-time leader in triple-doubles (209). The California native entered the NBA in 2008 after being selected out of UCLA with the No. 4 overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics, who eventually became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook later played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings throughout his career.
“Russell is one of the most accomplished players of his generation, and what makes him truly exceptional is the impact he has built beyond the game,” Alana Beard, Project B co-founder and chief basketball officer, said. “He believes athletes should have a real voice in shaping this sport, and he's here to help build it. Having him as a co-founder makes us stronger and expands what we believe basketball can be globally.”
The concept for Project B is to have two separate leagues ― men and women ― with six teams, each with 11 players. Those teams will compete in a global circuit slated to kick off in December 2026 and run through April 2027. Each city will host a 10-day event, crowning a city champion, and those victories will count towards a season-long championship. To date, Project B has announced it will play in Tokyo, Japan and Valencia, Spain.
Every athlete who plays in Project B will have equity in the league. Project B hasn’t disclosed any salaries yet, but a league spokesperson previously told USA TODAY Sports they are “higher than anything you’ve ever seen in women’s sports."
WNBA players who have signed with Project B include Azzi Fuddof the Dallas Wings, Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury, Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm, Allana Smith of the Dallas Wings, Jewell Loyd of the Las Vegas Aces, Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky, Nneka Ogwumike of the LA Sparks and Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever.
Westbrook joins a leadership team that includes Beard, a Hall of Famer and WNBA champion, plus co-founder and chief operating officer Grady Burnett, who is a former Facebook and Google Global Sales executive. Aaron Fischer, MGM Resorts International’s former chief strategy officer, is the league's chief financial officer. Also heavily involved in Project B are NBA agents Maverick Carter and Miško Ražnatović as senior advisors.
Project B has a host of investors in the league, including women’s basketball legends Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. Additionally, the global league has secured Host Broadcast Services (HBS) to be the official broadcaster for the league’s inaugural circuit. HBS has broadcast the FIFA World Cup since 2002. The games will stream live on YouTube.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russell Westbrook joins Project B basketball league in co-founder role
