“Nos enorgullece enormemente retirar el número de Russell. Durante su etapa en el equipo, Russell dejó una huella imborrable en la ciudad y el estado, y su compromiso con la comunidad ha perdurado mucho tiempo después”, declaró en un comunicado el presidente de los Thunder, Clayton Bennett. Los Oklahoma City Thunder retirarán el próximo 7 de febrero la camiseta con el dorsal 0 de Russell Westbrook durante el descanso del partido contra los New York Knicks.
An Announcement and a Legacy in Oklahoma City
The decision brings official closure to an 18-year professional career that included 11 seasons with the franchise from 2008 to 2019. Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on August 12. Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics—who relocated to Oklahoma City before he ever played a game in green—the explosive guard anchored the team’s culture through formative years and sustained competitive runs. “Muchos jugadores dejan huella, pero solo los grandes jugadores dejan un legado. El legado de Russell Westbrook se forjó tanto en la cancha como en la comunidad”, señaló Sam Presti, vicepresidente ejecutivo y gerente general de los Thunder.
RUSSELL 💙 🧡To a legend on and off the floor, congrats on retirement and thank you for everything you gave to the city @russwest44 pic.twitter.com/n6MqJqKaH9
Franchise Records and Historic Accolades
During his tenure in Oklahoma, Westbrook established himself as the team’s historical leader across nearly every major statistical category. He departed as the franchise leader in games played (821), total points (18,859), rebounds (5,760), assists (6,897), steals (1,442), field goals made (6,626), and minutes played (28,329). His individual achievements reached a peak during the 2016-17 season, when he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game to claim the league’s Most Valuable Player award. That remarkable campaign also featured a single-season record of 42 triple-doubles.
Differing Perspectives on Roster Impact and Next Steps
While the front office and fan base celebrate the imminent jersey retirement, coverage highlights contrasting views on the current state of the team hosting the event. The impending ceremony offers a welcome lift for a team navigating a demanding 2026-27 schedule marked by injuries to key contributors such as Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso. Analysts following the franchise note that Holmgren’s potential return ahead of the February 7 matchup could bolster the lineup against New York, shifting the focus from an uphill regular-season stretch to a historic organizational milestone.
Career Trajectory Beyond Oklahoma City
Following his departure from the Thunder in 2019, Westbrook continued his career across six different franchises. He had stints with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and finally the Sacramento Kings, where he played his final professional season. Across his entire career, he amassed an NBA-record 209 triple-doubles and joined Oscar Robertson and Nikola Jokic as the only players in league history to average a triple-double over an entire regular season—a feat he accomplished four times. Despite capturing two scoring titles with Oklahoma City, he retired without winning an NBA championship ring.
