Former OKC Thunder star Raymond Felton says he is stunned with the way Russell Westbrook gets treated

Felton defends his former MVP teammate

For the Thunder, Westbrook cemented himself as one of the most iconic players in franchise history. He never brought a championship to the city, but he stayed loyal to the team for over a decade.

That made him a legend in Oklahoma City, and he was considered the greatest player over someone like Kevin Durant, who left the team in 2016. It was one of the worst exits the franchise ever saw, considering he joined the Golden State Warriors, a team that beat them in the Playoffs weeks before. He proceeded to win two titles with the Warriors as the two-time Finals MVP.

Westbrook remained with the Thunder and kept them in the Playoffs. They did not win a championship, but Westbrook was still disrespected by the media and the fan base. That is why Felton wanted to keep defending him from the discourse.

“The fact that you don’t put Russ out there after averaging a triple-double. He averaged a triple-double with the squad he had. Are you serious right now? I watched his whole show last night on TV,” Felton said on To The Baha.

“The man has been hated on and put to the side his entire career. This ain’t nothing he’s not used to. But how can you just disrespect the man and his loyalty that he had to OKC? Even when KD left, he stayed loyal.”

“How are you going to hold him to that when the man was going through greatness before that?”

Westbrook is still a valuable free agent

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Westbrook is still a free agent. He can still produce at a high level, which could be helpful to any NBA team. Some Miami Heat fans have argued that Westbrook could be a great addition, especially after Tyler Herro’s injury.

With his playmaking and leadership, any team would love to have Westbrook in the optimal role. They would have to figure out where he fits, but he is a great teammate who will step up whenever he is needed.

The Heat could be a great landing spot, but the Sacramento Kings have been a long-time suitor in the 2025 offseason. No matter where he lands, the fans should start loving him more because almost every team he has joined has appreciated what he does on the court.

Sometimes, there will be some frustrating moments, but one could argue that Westbrook’s positives outweigh the negatives, especially when playing a smaller role.