Russell Westbrook joins Project B as co-founder and chief strategy officer
3 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 7:20 PM
Last updated Sep 2, 2026
Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook has joined the new basketball league Project B as a co-founder and chief strategy officer. Westbrook, who retired from the NBA last month, holds an ownership stake in the organization and serves on its board of directors. The league, featuring both men's and women's circuits, is scheduled to launch in January 2027 with plans for a multi-continental tour through Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Project B has already recruited over a dozen women's players, including Nneka Ogwumike, Jewell Loyd, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, and rookies Azzi Fudd and Awa Fam. The league stated that its salaries for the women's division will exceed current WNBA pay scales. Former Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields currently leads the men's basketball operations for the startup.
- •Russell Westbrook takes an ownership stake and a seat on the board of directors.
- •Project B plans an international launch in January 2027.
- •The league aims to pay women's players higher salaries than current WNBA contracts.
- •Landry Fields serves as the head of men's basketball for the startup.
- •Over a dozen women's players have committed to the league roster.
- 8:07 PMESPN NBA — Westbrook joins Project B's board of directors
- 6:40 PMYahoo Sports — Russell Westbrook joins upstart basketball league Project B as co-founder and chief strategy officer
"Russell Westbrook is joining the upstart men's and women's basketball league Project B as a co-founder and its chief strategy officer. The two-time NBA scoring champion and 2017 MVP who announced his retirement last month holds an ownership stake in Project B and has joined its board of directors, giving Westbrook a prominent role in the league, which will launch in January 2027 and barnstorm through cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. “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.
"Recently retired Russell Westbrook has joined new men's and women's basketball league Project B as a co-founder and chief strategy officer.
Sources
External links- ESPN NBASep 2, 2026, 8:07 PMWestbrook joins Project B's board of directors
Recently retired Russell Westbrook has joined new men's and women's basketball league Project B as a co-founder and chief strategy officer.
- Yahoo SportsSep 2, 2026, 6:40 PMRussell Westbrook joins upstart basketball league Project B as co-founder and chief strategy officer
Russell Westbrook is joining the upstart men's and women's basketball league Project B as a co-founder and its chief strategy officer. The two-time NBA scoring champion and 2017 MVP who announced his retirement last month holds an ownership stake in Project B and has joined its board of directors, giving Westbrook a prominent role in the league, which will launch in January 2027 and barnstorm through cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. “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.
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