Russell Westbrook has set a new goal following his retirement from the NBA, expressing his desire to carry the Olympic torch when the 2028 Summer Olympics arrive in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Westbrook, who won a gold medal with the United States at the 2012 London Olympics, made the announcement Friday after being honored by the Los Angeles City Council for his community service work, according to ESPN’s Ben Golliver.
“I’m putting this out now: I want to be in the presentation of Los Angeles, as it pertains to carrying the torch during the 2028 Olympics,” Westbrook said.
The former NBA star, who announced his retirement in August after 18 seasons, said he has challenged employees of his Why Not? Foundation to expand their philanthropic efforts as he works toward that goal.
“To be able to [carry the torch], you have to be able to position yourself to have your hands in so many different areas,” Westbrook explained. “For me, I’m working religiously impacting so many people, advancing technology, energy, education, healthcare, mental health and wellness. Every aspect, I want to have my hands in to help any way I can.”
Westbrook’s connection to Los Angeles extends beyond his NBA career. He attended Leuzinger High School and UCLA before playing for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers.
Westbrook’s focus on community work has become a central part of his plans after basketball. He explained that retirement would allow him to dedicate more time to philanthropy and remain more involved in the city that shaped him.
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“While I was playing, [Los Angeles] was my court,” Westbrook said. “Basketball was something I was doing for fun. That was my outlet. Being drafted and being in the NBA was great. But … being able to have more time, since my retirement, to give back more and be more present, that’s more important.”
Westbrook finished his career as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, earned nine All-Star selections and won the 2017 NBA MVP award. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 64 games for the Sacramento Kings during the 2025-26 season.
Westbrook also said he hopes to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame soon, but his immediate ambitions center on making a difference in Los Angeles.
