Russell Westbrook wants to be a torchbearer for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics

Recently retired NBA star Russell Westbrook wants to be a torchbearer for the 2028 Summer Olympics in his native Los Angeles.

Westbrook, 37, surprisingly announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons during the summer. He was honored by the Los Angeles City Council on Friday for his acclaimed career in addition to the community work he and his Why Not? Foundation have done for the city.

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As he accepted a certificate presented by Los Angeles city councilwoman Heather Hutt for the investments his foundation made in the region’s schools, athletic facilities and other development projects, Westbrook made his pitch for carrying the torch during the 2028 Olympic Games.

“I’m putting this out now: I want to be in the presentation of Los Angeles, as it pertains to carrying the torch during the 2028 Olympics,” Westbrook said, via ESPN’s Ben Golliver.

Born in Long Beach and attending high school at Leuzinger High in Lawndale, Westbrook is a Los Angeles-area native. He played college basketball at UCLA and had stints with both the Lakers (2021-23) and Clippers (2023-24) during his NBA career.

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Westbrook twice led the NBA in scoring and was a three-time assists leader. He earned NBA MVP honors for the 2016-17 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, one of four seasons during which he averaged a triple-double. A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook is the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209. (Though Nikola Jokić is gaining on him with 198.)

Last season, Westbrook was still productive, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 64 games with the Sacramento Kings. That made his decision to retire somewhat surprising. Yet being able to make the choice himself, rather than the league telling him he was no longer able to perform, was important.

Speaking before Friday’s preseason game in China between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, former teammate Kevin Durant said he was “a little sad” to learn of Westbrook’s retirement.

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“I thought Russ had five or six more years left,” he said.

Earlier this week, two-time NBA MVP…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/russell-westbrook-wants-to-be-a-torchbearer-for-the-los-angeles-2028-olympics-215043233.html

Author : Ian Casselberry

Publish date : 2026-10-09 21:50:00

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