NBA star Russell Westbrook may be known for his explosive playing style and MVP accolades, but off the court, his most important role is that of husband and father. The Los Angeles Clippers guard has been married to his college sweetheart, Nina Westbrook, since 2015, and the two share three children together.<\/p>\n
Nina, a former college basketball player turned licensed therapist and entrepreneur, has built a life dedicated to family, mental health advocacy, and empowering women. Their love story began on the campus of UCLA and has grown into one of the most enduring relationships in the NBA spotlight.<\/p>\n
From College Sweethearts to Life Partners<\/h2>\nNina Westbrook, born Nina Earl on January 16, 1989, grew up in Southern California with three brothers. She excelled in both basketball and track during high school before accepting an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she played as a forward for the Bruins women\u2019s basketball team.<\/p>\n
It was at UCLA where she met Russell Westbrook, then a rising star on the men\u2019s basketball team. The two started dating in 2007 and bonded over their shared love of competition. Nina once joked that she stopped playing basketball against Russell because he \u201cbecame a cheater\u201d when she kept winning.<\/p>\n
After six years together, Russell proposed in 2014. They tied the knot on August 29, 2015, in a star-studded ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel attended by NBA stars Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Love. James Harden even brought Khlo\u00e9 Kardashian as his date. Their first dance was to Lauryn Hill and D\u2019Angelo\u2019s \u201cNothing Even Matters,\u201d with a surprise performance by Grammy-winning singer Miguel.<\/p>\n
Nina Westbrook\u2019s Career: From Psychology to Business and Advocacy<\/h2>\nBeyond being known as Russell Westbrook\u2019s wife, Nina has carved out a successful career of her own. She earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology and a minor in English from UCLA before completing a master\u2019s degree in clinical psychology. Today, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist, passionate about mental health and wellness.<\/p>\n
Her career path shifted as Russell\u2019s NBA journey took them across multiple states. Practicing therapy traditionally became challenging, so Nina pivoted into entrepreneurship. She opened a boutique called The Little Ark and launched Minibrook, a children\u2019s clothing line, in 2020. She also founded Bene by Nina, an online platform offering mental health workshops and self-care resources for women.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided to shift gears and took that as an opportunity to explore other interests,\u201d she told Darling Magazine in 2020. Nina frequently uses her platform to advocate for women\u2019s mental health, particularly women of color, emphasizing the importance of self-care practices such as exercise and journaling.<\/p>\n
Beyond being known as Russell Westbrook\u2019s wife, Nina has carved out a successful career of her own. She earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology and a minor in English from UCLA before completing a master\u2019s degree in clinical psychology. Today, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist, passionate about mental health and wellness.<\/p>\n
Her career path shifted as Russell\u2019s NBA journey took them across multiple states. Practicing therapy traditionally became challenging, so Nina pivoted into entrepreneurship. She opened a boutique called The Little Ark and launched Minibrook, a children\u2019s clothing line, in 2020. She also founded Bene by Nina, an online platform offering mental health workshops and self-care resources for women.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided to shift gears and took that as an opportunity to explore other interests,\u201d she told Darling Magazine in 2020. Nina frequently uses her platform to advocate for women\u2019s mental health, particularly women of color, emphasizing the importance of self-care practices such as exercise and journaling.<\/p>\n
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