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Denver Nuggets
Aug 11, 2025 5:39 PM EDT
Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook recently completed his 17th season and first with the Denver Nuggets. Declining his $3.4 million player option for next season, Westbrook entered free agency where he remains unsigned.
While he is best known for his accomplishments on the basketball court, Westbrook is involved in several different sectors between his Why Not? Foundation and individual enterprises. As fans await Westbrook’s free agency decision, the 2017 league MVP is continuing 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 impacted by the wildfires in January.
Denver Nuggets, Russell Westbrook
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) — Source: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
In addition to the work being done through his foundation, Westbrook’s fingerprints remain all over the LA basketball scene. A former UCLA standout and Los Angeles native, Westbrook has deep roots in the city. This was on display over the weekend when 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 EYBL 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 by the official page of his EYBL team.
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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 then went on to star for UCLA where he spent two seasons before being selected No. 4 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder (then Seattle Supersonics) in 2008.
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 where he spent parts of two seasons before being traded to the Utah Jazz, where he was bought out before signing with the LA Clippers.
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Athlon NBA Staff