Lost and found in his singularity, Russell Westbrook believed in himself more than anybody he ever faced in his eighteen-year career, now and stunningly in its past tense, has ever believed in themselves. Not once, from his highly-touted Leuzinger High years in Long Beach onward, did a camera pan on him in a moment of doubt.

Through his final NBA basket, a layup with the Sacramento Kings, Russ believed that he could win every game by some combination of his own hands, feet, an angular explanation of basketball that may only exist in his magnificent brain and a standing-upon-business that few players in the history of the game ever exhibited. 

Los Angeles was strong in him, the Kobe influence apparent. Drafted a Seattle SuperSonic but minted as a league MVP with the Oklahoma City Thunder, nobody went harder, to his fans’ delight and detriment, than Russell Westbrook, who on August 12^th of this year announced his retirement from basketball.

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