Who Is Russell Westbrook's Wife? All About Nina Westbrook

Russell Westbrook may be a nine-time NBA All-Star, but off the court, the professional player is a family man.

On August 29, 2015, Russell married his college sweetheart, Nina Westbrook, in an intimate outdoor ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Almost two years later, in May 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, son Noah Russell Westbrook. In September 2018, the couple announced that they were expecting again — this time with twins! Their daughters, Skye and Jordyn, were born two months later.

In November 2022, Russell spoke to PEOPLE about being a father of three, saying it’s what he’s “most proud of.” He also praised his wife’s “constant sacrifice” throughout his career.

“She kept s— down from start to finish, and now I could see her grow in the things she wanted to do while still supporting me and doing things with the kids and doing this and doing that,” he told Nina. “I’m just grateful to have a partner who is capable of making all that sacrifice. Now we’re here.”

So who is Nina Westbrook? Here’s everything you need to know about Russell Westbrook’s wife and her relationship with the NBA star.

She was an athlete in college

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Nina, nee Earl, was born on January 16, 1989 and grew up in Southern California with three brothers.

She played basketball and ran track in high school, competing in the 4×400 and 400 meter relays. Although she excelled in both sports, she decided to play basketball.

After graduating from Diamond Ranch High School, Nina received an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, she was a forward on the women’s basketball team and was described as “one of the fastest players on the team.”

She met Russell at UCLA

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Russell also attended UCLA and played on the men’s basketball team, where he met his future wife. He played for the UCLA Bruins from 2006 to 2008 before being drafted to the NBA. In 2007, he and Nina started a relationship.

Nina described their courtship Access to Hollywood in 2020 filled with playful competition. “The beginning of our relationship was a lot of fun,” she said, adding that they would often play basketball together. She said she would often win before joking: “I had to stop playing with him because he became a cheater.”

He is a licensed marriage and family therapist

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Nina graduated in psychology from UCLA University, as well as in English. She then earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is now a licensed marriage and family therapist.

During a 2013 interview with ESPN, Russell praised his then-girlfriend’s studious nature, saying “she’s a smart girl” before adding, “she knows what she wants to do in life, which is great.”

She is an entrepreneur

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In 2008, Russell began his professional basketball career playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. While there, Nina started a new career of her own, opening a small boutique called The Little Ark. Then in 2020, she launched a children’s clothing line called Minibrook.

She is also the founder of Bene, a website that offers mental health workshops and self-help advice for women.

During the interview with Darling magazine in 2020, Nina opened up about how her status as an NBA wife has affected her career, saying, “We lived in multiple states throughout the year and practicing as a therapist in the traditional sense became very difficult.” She then added, “I decided to switch gears and use it as an opportunity to explore other interests.”

She and Russell had a star-studded wedding

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Russell proposed to Nina in 2014 after six years of dating. The following year, the couple tied the knot on August 29, 2015. They said “I do” in an outdoor ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA in front of a host of famous friends.

Several other basketball stars made an appearance at the wedding, including Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka and Dorell Wright. In addition, NBA player James Harden brought Khloé Kardashian to the event as his companion.

At their reception, the couple had their first dance to Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo’s “Nothing Even Matters.” Later in the evening, Grammy winner Miguel gave a surprise performance.

The next day, Nina shared a series of photos on Instagram to celebrate their wedding.

She has three children with Russell

Nina Earl Instagram

Russell and Nina welcomed their first child, son Noah, on May 16, 2017. 16 months after his birth, the couple announced they were expecting again.

Nina praised her husband’s parenting skills in their YouTube post, saying he is “very practical”. In response, Russell said that “being a dad is more important to me than anything else,” adding that he’s excited to raise two more babies. The couple’s twins, Skye and Jordan, were born in 2018.

In 2021, Nina revealed on Instagram that her second pregnancy was risky. “The reality is that my pregnancy with Skye and Jordyn was high risk and we encountered unforeseen complications during the birth, which was really scary,” she wrote. “I feel so lucky that we had the care we had, but it pains me to know that a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes every 12 hours and 60% of those deaths are preventable.”

She is a mental health advocate

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Nina uses her high-profile status to raise awareness of various mental health and women’s issues. She often advocates for women of color, especially.

“I think black women and women of color are some of the most underrated groups of people in the US,” she told Popsugar 2020. She went on to talk about her belief in self-care, saying, “There are so many different ways we can maintain, work on, and cultivate our mental well-being,” before citing activities like exercise and journaling.

She and Russell run a charity together

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In 2012, with the help of his wife, Russell started his non-profit organization Why Not? Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering children and communities in an underprivileged position. After several schools switched to virtual learning in response to the 2020 pandemic, Nina and Russell worked to donate computers to students in need.

Most recently, in 2021, the couple opened Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Los Angeles Academy. The NBA pro launched a school initiative with the help of the LA Promise Fund. In a statement to PEOPLE, Russell said he wants to help “inspire and empower these students,” adding that he hopes to give them resources “to prepare them for success outside the classroom.”

She is Russell’s biggest supporter

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Russell joined the Los Angeles Lakers 2021, but during his first season with the team, the NBA star failed to perform up to expectations and received criticism from fans as a result.

In March 2022, Nina spoke about the death threats and harassment she received from fans because of her husband’s performance. “When they harass me every day because of basketball games, and I have rude ones [sic] and death wishes for me and my family sent me because you are expressing your ‘truth’ I find it hard to accept,” she tweeted.

Russell also told reporters at the time, “When it comes to basketball, I don’t mind criticism of misses and shots. But the moment my name is being dishonored, it becomes a problem.”

After two seasons with the Lakers, Russell went to play for the Utah Jazz. In 2023, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers.

Nina told PEOPLE in June 2023 that she’s learned to tune out the negativity of fans, but the “biggest challenge” is protecting her kids from it.

“I’m not too affected by things that happen outside my circle, but my children are young and they don’t have the same experience,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to deal with it [this issue].”

She and Russell attended many high profile events

Russell Westbrook and Nina Westbrook attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

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Nina and Russell have walked numerous red carpets over the years.

Recently, the couple attended vanity fairOscar after party. Russell looked stylish in a Thom Browne ensemble, while Nina complemented her husband in a tweed suit by the same brand.

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Source: HIS Education