Russell Westbrook Makes Statement After 2 Games Against OKC Thunder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 4:38 PM ET

While some players, like Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan, have brought more to a franchise than Russell Westbrook brought to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it feels like no player has ever offered more to a city. In the years after Kevin Durant left for easy street, Westbrook stayed in OKC, doing his absolute best for the franchise until it became clear that there was nothing left to give.

He won an MVP award and made eight All-Star Games with the Thunder, and even six years since his last season with OKC< he is always welcomed back warmly by fans.

His Denver Nuggets played two games in a row against the Thunder, and he scored an efficient 16 points in the second game. The two teams, who are among the best in the Western Conference, split the games, but Westrbook was greeted by thunderous applause every time he touched the court or even got the ball.

Apparently, he loves the fans just as much as they love him, and he took to social media to express his appreciation for the city that sculped him into an all-time great.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Russell Westbrook (@russwest44)

The post, in which Westbrook claims Oklahoma City will always be his home, is nearing 50,000 likes at the time of writing.

It's common for a player's first game at his old arena to be an emotional event, with tribute videos or an ovation expected (depending on the circumstances of the departure, of course) but Westrbook's legacy as the best and most beloved player to ever suit up in OKC means he will always be welcomed back, even if he isn't the same player as he once was.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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