Westbrook retired.
I woke up early this morning, saw the news, and couldn't quite believe it.
Just yesterday, I was furiously scrolling through every update, waiting to see which team he would finally join for his nineteenth season.
But today, he suddenly announced his retirement. It caught me off guard.
Then again, eighteen seasons was a long career.
I didn't become a Thunder fan or a Westbrook fan when he was at his peak, at the height of his glory.
Back then, I was still in high school. I couldn't afford a subscription or find the time to watch every game, so all I could do was browse highlight reels on video sites.
The players I admired most at the time were Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade.
Then came the 2018–19 season.
For the first time, I watched an entire Thunder season from start to finish.
That season felt a lot like Westbrook's whole career.
A whirlwind of passion, hope, surprises, and regrets.
It was the season George made the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team, the season Westbrook averaged another triple-double. Yet it ended against their "ideal opponent," the Trail Blazers, whom they had swept in all four regular season meetings.
At the time, I didn't feel all that much regret. I thought there would be another season, another chance to start over.
But the off-season immediately opened with everything falling apart.
I was following the drama around Kawhi's move, and before I knew it, my home team was gone.
Then Westbrook went to the Rockets to team up with Harden.
I remembered that the Heat had also been interested in trading for Westbrook.
I would have preferred to see him join Butler on the Heat.
Unfortunately, he seemed to trust his old friend Harden more.
His time