As the Houston Rockets prepare for the 2026-27 NBA season, star forward Kevin Durant admitted he was saddened by former teammate Russell Westbrook's recent retirement, believing the former MVP still had another five or six years left in his career.
During a recent press conference, Durant reflected on Westbrook's decision to walk away from the NBA and explained why he believed the 37-year-old could have continued playing into his 40s.
“Yeah, I was a little sad. I still thought Russ had five or six more years left. He’s an athletic body that can still impact the game positively but sometimes people at that point where they just wanna step away and do something different. So, congrats to him on an iconic career and I know the next phase of his life he’s gonna put the same amount of work into it just like he did in basketball.”
Durant and Westbrook spent eight seasons together with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 to 2016, forming one of the NBA's most dynamic duos. The two helped Oklahoma City reach the NBA Finals in 2012, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games.
During their time together, Durant won the 2014 NBA MVP award, while Westbrook established himself as one of the league's premier point guards. The duo also helped the Thunder reach four Western Conference finals before Durant departed for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Despite their separation, Durant's latest comments reflect the respect he continues to have for his former teammate and his ability to compete at a high level.
Kevin Durant on Russell Westbrook retiring
“I was a little sad. I thought Russ still had 5 or 6 more years left. He’s an athletic body that can still impact the game positively. Congrats to him on an iconic career.”
(h/t @TheWestbrookEra) pic.twitter.com/zaLOweAkVb
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) October 9, 2026
Kevin Durant reflects on Russell Westbrook's NBA career
Westbrook announced his retirement in September after a lengthy NBA career that included nine All-Star selections, the 2017 MVP award and multiple All-NBA honors.
The veteran guard also became the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles, surpassing Oscar Robertson's previous record of 181 during the 2020-21 season.
Article Continues BelowThroughout his career, Westbrook built a reputation for his explosive athleticism, relentless playing style and ability to impact games in multiple statistical categories.
Although his production declined during the latter stages of his career, Durant believes Westbrook still possessed the physical tools necessary to contribute to an NBA team for several more seasons.
The Rockets star also acknowledged that Westbrook's decision involved more than his ability to play basketball, recognizing that players eventually reach a point where they want to pursue opportunities outside the sport.
As Durant enters another season with Houston, his former teammate begins a new chapter after a career that established him as one of the most accomplished point guards in NBA history.