Westbrook returned to OKC, Thunder beat 113–92 Rockets
Russell Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City for the first time this season and he was very welcomed from the fans who gave him a standing ovation, cheered loudly ‘’MVP’’ and the organization which in order to pay tribute to him, displayed a video filled with some of the great moments that he had all these years as a member of this team. He was smiling the entire time and he was so appreciative of everything that the organization did for him and also the people that came to see him play.
He was drafted back in 2008 and as soon as he stepped his foot on the floor he displayed his athleticism, his confidence and exuberance, some of the traits that made him so unique. He was willing to do anything he could to accomplish the main goal — to win a championship for this franchise, for the people of this community, this state in which he grew up. When Kevin Durant left for the favor of a 73–9 team, the Golden State Warriors, Westbrook didn’t quit on his team, he stayed. The following season he led the Thunder to the playoffs all by himself without the companionship of another superstar. He won the MVP Award and he averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons, something that was so spectacular to witness. He and the Thunder failed to pass the first round of the playoffs during the last three seasons, Paul George wanted to join the Clippers so he can play with Kawhi Leonard and Westbrook along with Thunder executive and GM Sam Presti decided that the best for both of them was to follow different directions. Westbrook, in his 30’s, wanted to compete for the title with a real contender and Sam Presti wanted to go on rebuild mode. Presti worked on trade with Rockets and both pulled it off. Thunder fans were extremely disappointed and mad at Presti and also didn’t know what to expect from a 34-years old point guard, Chris Paul. The team under the young core and the leadership of Paul looks like they are playing very well and it’s likely that we will see them in the playoffs.
“Some things you can’t put into words,” Westbrook said. “I’ve been here for so long and so many great memories, great people. The absolute best fans in the world because they come with it, and tonight they came with it.”
Westbrook: “The fans here, the people, they never did me no wrong. I have nothing, no bad blood, nothing here in this city from no fans or nobody in this organization because they gave me all they have, and I gave them all I have.”
“I don’t regret one thing being here in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I don’t regret signing back, I don’t regret staying here. I don’t regret anything that I did here. I feel like I left everything out on the floor every single night and did what I could for the city.”
Westbrook scored 34 points (14/26 FG, 1/6 3s, 5/6 FT, 2 rebounds, 5 assists) against his former team for which he spent his first 11 seasons of his career. Despite his good performance, his team was inefficient in terms of shooting (38.2% from the field and 27.5% from the perimeter) during the first half and the Rockets lost 113–92 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
It was a special game and it ended with Russ approaching, hugging and talking to his former teammates like Steven Adams, Terrence Ferguson, Dennis Schroder, plus Thunder owner Clay Bennett, and let’s not forget the player that was involved in the trade that brought him in Houston, Chris Paul.
“The energy was amazing,” Paul said. “Our first nationally televised game and Russ being back so we knew that the crowd — I mean the crowd is always great, but we knew it was going to be a different energy tonight with Russ’ first game back here and I mean, you’ve got to get excited during the player intros. Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) and I were just sitting over there talking about, you know, ‘All right, let’s get to it.”
Danilo Gallinari led the Thunder with 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, shooting 7/11 from the field and 3/6 from the perimeter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points, three rebounds and three assists. Steven Adams had 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Dennis Schroder had 16 points and five rebounds coming off the bench as the Thunder have won the eight of their last ten games.
Here is a well-made mini-movie by Bleacher Report that displays some of the greatest moments that Westbrook had as a player of the Oklahoma City Thunder: