Russell Westbrook jersey retirement plans are set: the Oklahoma City Thunder will raise his No. 0 during a Feb. 7 game against the New York Knicks, the team announced Monday. The honor marks the end of a playing relationship that began with the No. 4 pick in the 2008 draft and ran through 11 seasons.
Russell Westbrook jersey retirement ceremony lands on a February home date
Westbrook played the first 11 of his 18 NBA seasons with the Thunder, from 2008 to 2019. He announced his retirement from the NBA on Aug. 12, and the franchise has now fixed the date for the banner.
The nine-time All-Star point guard turns 38 on Nov. 12. He finished his career last season with the Sacramento Kings, one of six other teams he played for after leaving Oklahoma City, and he retires as the NBA's all-time leader with 209 triple-doubles.
Oklahoma City's record book carries his name throughout
Westbrook is Oklahoma City's all-time leader in games (821), points (18,859), rebounds (5,760), assists (6,897), steals (1,442), field goals made (6,626) and minutes (28,329). The breadth of that list is the argument for the ceremony: no single category explains it, and no single season does either.
Bennett and Presti on a legacy that outlasted the tenure
"We are incredibly proud to retire Russell's number. Russell made a lasting mark on the city and state during his time with the team, and his involvement in the community has endured long after."
That was Thunder chairman Clayton I. Bennett, who added that the organization is "deeply grateful for his genuine care for the people of Oklahoma" and that Westbrook "will always be considered a member of the Oklahoma City community."
"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."
Executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said Westbrook's "mindset was relentless, his commitment deep," and that his number "will be raised to the rafters, in Oklahoma City forever."
From the fourth pick to the 2012 Finals
Oklahoma City drafted Westbrook with the No. 4 overall pick in 2008. He won NBA scoring titles with the Thunder in 2014-15 and 2016-17, and in 2016-17 he was named the league's Most Valuable Player after averaging a triple-double of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
He helped lead the Thunder to nine playoff appearances, including four trips to the Western Conference finals and the 2012 NBA Finals. He was also a two-time All-Star Game MVP.
Analysis: why the February date carries weight
Analysis. The permanence matters more than the scheduling. Westbrook's name sits atop nearly every cumulative category in the Oklahoma City record book, and those totals were compiled before his career scattered across six other franchises.
Retiring the number formalizes a bond that survived the 2019 departure and the years of movement that followed. For a franchise whose history is still short enough to be held in one building, the banner is also an act of record-keeping.
The original report was published by gmanetwork.com.
