Russell Westbrook Joins New League as Co-Founder Amid Retirement Getaway With Chris Paul

Russell Westbrook retired in August. The pictures that followed were not a press conference. They were a vacation with Chris Paul, wives included, and clips of the two trading lobs. At the same time, he accepted a title that keeps him in basketball without putting him back on an NBA roster. He is a co-founder of Project B.

Russell Westbrook has joined the upstart league as co-founder and chief strategy officer. He will take an equity stake and sit on the board of directors, according to The Athletic.

Project B intends to barnstorm across Asia, Europe and South America. It is aiming for an early 2027 launch, with a women’s division already signing names and a men’s side still being built. There is no indication yet that Westbrook will play in it.

“At every step of my career, what was most valuable to me was making sure everyone had a seat at the table,” Westbrook said in a statement. “With Project B, we’re challenging the norm and bringing a new vision to the intersection of premium sport, culture, and entertainment. We’re reimagining the experience with players not only as key value drivers, but also as shareholders and decision makers.”

The résumé he is converting is 18 NBA seasons, an MVP, nine All-Star teams and the league record for triple-doubles. Project B was founded by tech executives, has been linked to large venture backing, works with Maverick Carter, and has already added WNBA stars on the women’s side.

Landry Fields is running the men’s basketball division. Westbrook is the most important former NBA player to walk in as an executive.

Russell Westbrook’s First Post-NBA Job Arrives While He and Chris Paul Celebrate the End of the Run

Chief strategy officer means he is supposed to shape how the league is sold and how players sit inside it. Equity is the part that matches the statement. He is not taking a ceremonial ambassador tour. He is taking a stake.

The getaway is the other story from the same retirement. Matt Barnes said Paul told him they were taking their wives on a trip to celebrate both careers.

“Him and [Russ] are going on a vacation," Barnes said on the All the Smoke podcast. "So that was interesting. They’re taking their wives on a vacation. So that’s dope.” The trip is framed as a celebration of two careers that just ended in the same calendar year.

“Two of the greatest PGs going to kick their feet in the sand, have some drinks, and really just celebrate," he added. "I mean, because this is the end of CP’s career, too. Obviously his s-t was cut short during the season the way the Clippers dogged him, but two of the greatest point guards we’ve ever seen, particularly Russ, man. One hell of a run, bro. One of the most feared point guards we’ve ever seen.”

The lob videos show two point guards who spent a decade being ranked against each other, now throwing alley-oops with nobody keeping score.