Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes Russell Westbrook has 'little bit more in the tank'

This past August was the latest sign of our fragile mortality. In the early waves of the 2010s era-defining NBA superstars calling it quits, Russell Westbrook announced his retirement. After an epic 18-season career, he hung up his sneakers for good as one of the most polarizing names ever.

When Westbrook announced his NBA retirement, current players and all-time legends showed their love. Several flooded his social media post that broke the news. Heck, even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended his years-long Twitter hiatus to wish him the best.

Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander and Westbrook are linked for the rest of basketball eternity. Even if they never shared a locker room together. When you think of some of the greatest and best Thunder players of all time,

those two are top of the top three names. Alongside Kevin Durant.

Westbrook spent his first 11 seasons on the Thunder. That's where he enjoyed his best years. Both on an individual and team level. The former MVP broke the mystique surrounding the triple-double in OKC. Along the way, he was a perennial All-Star/All-NBA member. He also co-starred in several of their deep playoff runs.

Gilgeous-Alexander talked more in depth about Westbrook's impact in OKC. And in the NBA, in totality. Even if his dramatic playstyle garnered strong reactions on both sides of the spectrum, there's no denying that his breathtaking athleticism and superhuman motor were quite the attraction. At the peak of his powers, the Thunder were must-watch TV.

"He is as dynamic as they come in terms of an NBA player, personality and teammate. Russ is the whole package. He's the foundation for what we stand on now," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Part of the reason why the city is what it is is because of Russell Westbrook. He deserves all those flowers for what he's done off the court and on the court."

Now, the timing of Westbrook's NBA retirement caught most of the basketball world a little off guard. After all, he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in his final season last year on the Sacramento Kings. Surely a team could use that type of production, no? Well, the market wasn't rich enough for the 37-year-old. Instead of settling, he left of his own accord.

"Obviously, a little shocking that it's this soon. He had a little bit more in the tank," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "But yeah, everyone has their own journey. He deserves his flowers. I think it's kind of how the world is. Usually, you get them when you're done. It's unfortunate."

Either way, milking an extra year of his legendary career would've done very little for him, in my opinion. Good to leave the game before the game leaves you. Even if Westbrook's final one-third of his career petered out as a journeyman, what he did in the first two-thirds as the Thunder franchise record and constantly one of the top names of the game is more than enough to get inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"What he's done for the game of basketball, for the kids, for the city, for the world, has been special," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "And we'll miss Russ."

SGA on Russell Westbrook: “He’s as dynamic as they come in terms of NBA player, personality, teammate… He deserves all those flowers for what he's done off the court and on the court. Obviously, a little shocking that it's this soon. I thought he had a little bit more in the… pic.twitter.com/DBzCWkcC0G

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 5, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes Russell Westbrook has 'little bit more in the tank'