NBA free agent Russell Westbrook shared news.
Congratulations Pouring in After Russell Westbrook Shares News originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook completed his 17th season and first with the Denver Nuggets in the spring. Declining his $3.4 million player option for next season, Westbrook entered free agency but remains unsigned.
While best known for his accomplishments on the basketball court, Westbrook is involved in numerous endeavors through his Why Not? Foundation and individual enterprises. As fans await Westbrook's free agency decision, the 2017 league MVP continues to make his impact felt off the court.
This was seen recently when he hosted a free youth basketball camp in Altadena (via Why Not? Foundation), an area of Los Angeles heavily affected by the wildfires in January.
In addition to the work being done through his foundation, Westbrook's fingerprints are all over the LA basketball scene. A former UCLA standout and Los Angeles native, Westbrook has deep roots in the city. Over the weekend several of his Team Why Not? coaches and alumni took home the Drew League championship.
Russell Westbrook's EYBL Team Well-Represented at Drew League
The Drew League is a summer pro–am basketball league held annually in LA. It is an offseason staple for many current and former NBA players, particularly those with ties to Southern California. While Westbrook did not play in the league this summer, several current and former members of his Nike Elite Youth Basketball League program were on the championship-winning team, the Hometown Favorites.
This news was shared by Westbrook on his personal Instagram story in addition to being posted on the official page of his EYBL team.
Congratulations have been pouring in, both on this post and several from the Drew League itself.
"Congrats fellas," said califrank5.
"Legends!" ex-NBA guard Cassius Stanley wrote.
"Congrats fellas 👏👏👏," said EYBL director Corey Boswell.
"Congrats," TV executive Myiea Coy commented.
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥," former NBA guard Quentin Richardson added.
"Congratsssss," photographer Cassy Athena commented.
"Congrats fellas," wrote NBA trainer Keion Kindred.
Russell Westbrook's LA Basketball History
Born and raised in South LA, Westbrook attended Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California. He starred for two seasons with UCLA before being selected with the fourth pick of the 2008 draft by the Seattle Supersonics one week before a settlement was announced that cleared the way for that franchise to immediately relocate to Oklahoma City and become the Thunder.
While Westbrook began his NBA career in OKC, that did not close the book on his LA basketball journey. In 2021 he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent parts of two seasons in his hometown before being traded to the Utah Jazz. He never played for Utah, however. His contract was bought out and he signed with the LA Clippers, with whom he stayed through the end of the 2023-24 season.
Related: NBA Star Russell Westbrook Announces Personal News on Wednesday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
