Russell Westbrook reveals how much Oklahoma City has meant to him over the years

1 hour ago 7

Russell Westbrook is one of the biggest legends that the Oklahoma City Thunder have produced. He may not have won a championship with the franchise like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did, but he is still one of the city's biggest sports legends.

Considering that he spent 11 seasons with the Thunder, he certainly has a strong connection with the city. Now, the Thunder have announced that they are retiring his iconic #0 jersey number, and his emotions are proof that he definitely has a special relationship with the city.

Russell Westbrook dives into what made his relationship with Oklahoma City special

Westbrook was one of the most impressive players in the league during his Thunder tenure. He has plenty of superb seasons, but the best campaign has to be the 2026-17 season when he averaged 31.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game.

It was one of the best seasons of any player since 2000, and that has proven to be one of the biggest reasons behind the mutual love between OKC and Westbrook. Considering he was the one who stayed with the Thunder while Kevin Durant left, Westbrook is the sentimental favorite by far.

MORE: The Thunder have given Russell Westbrook the biggest honor after a historic NBA career

Now, Thunder general manager Sam Presti has announced that the organization will be retiring Westbrook's #0 jersey number. That is a fantastic moment for everyone involved, and Westbrook himself got emotional because of his love for Oklahoma City.

"Being able to come here and be able to be in Oklahoma City just changed my trajectory of life and how I thought about people. Me and my friends, we always talk about how Oklahoma City has the nicest, and the most kindest people in the world, and I truly believe that," Westbrook said about what the Thunder and the city mean to him.

In January, Oklahoma City will get the opportunity to show love to a franchise legend. It will be an emotional January night, but it seems that Westbrook will feel the same as the fans who will be watching in the arena.