Thunder to Retire Russell Westbrook’s No. 0 Jersey

The Oklahoma City Thunder will retire Russell Westbrook’s No. 0 jersey on February 7, 2027, honoring the former NBA MVP for his contributions to the franchise during his 11 seasons with the team.

The ceremony will take place at Paycom Center when Oklahoma City hosts the New York Knicks. Westbrook, who announced his retirement after 18 NBA seasons, will become the second player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired, joining Nick Collison, whose No. 4 hangs in the rafters.

Originally selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, Westbrook spent the first 11 years of his professional career with the franchise, establishing himself as one of the most influential players in team history.

“Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy. Russell Westbrook’s legacy was built both on the court and in the community,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said. “His mindset was relentless, his commitment deep. For all those reasons, Oklahomans consider him one of their own and his number will be raised to the rafters, in Oklahoma City forever.”

Westbrook Established Himself as Thunder Legend

Westbrook arrived in Oklahoma City just days before the franchise officially relocated from Seattle in 2008. He quickly became a central figure in the team’s rise alongside Kevin Durant, helping the Thunder reach the NBA Finals in 2012.

Oklahoma City made the playoffs nine times during Westbrook’s tenure, including four appearances in the Western Conference Finals. The franchise also recorded a 538-348 regular-season record during those 11 seasons.

Westbrook reached another level after Durant departed for the Golden State Warriors following the 2015-16 season. He responded by producing one of the most remarkable individual campaigns in NBA history, averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game in the 2016-17 season.

His performance made him the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double across an entire season and earned him the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Westbrook also recorded an NBA-record 42 triple-doubles that season.

He continued averaging a triple-double over the following two campaigns, finishing his Oklahoma City career with 821 appearances and franchise records in games played, points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goals made and minutes.

Thunder Honor Westbrook’s Lasting Legacy

Westbrook earned eight of his nine All-Star selections and eight of his nine All-NBA honors while playing for Oklahoma City. He also became a two-time NBA scoring champion and led the league in assists three times.

His achievements earned him a place on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, further cementing his status among the greatest players of his generation.

The Thunder traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets ahead of the 2019-20 season as the organization moved in a different direction following the departure of Durant and Paul George. He subsequently played for the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings before retiring.

However, his connection with Oklahoma City remained special throughout the remainder of his career. Beyond his performances on the court, Westbrook developed a strong relationship with the local community, making him one of the franchise’s most recognizable figures.

Thunder chairman Clayton I. Bennett also praised Westbrook’s contributions to the city and his continued involvement in the community.

“We are deeply grateful for his genuine care for the people of Oklahoma, and he will always be considered a member of the Oklahoma City community,” Bennett said.

Westbrook’s jersey retirement will give the franchise and its supporters an opportunity to celebrate a player whose impact extended beyond statistics and individual awards. His No. 0 will soon join Collison’s No. 4 as a permanent part of Oklahoma City’s basketball history.