Hoops Habit
Fansided

Russell Westbrook: A tribute to an OKC Thunder legend

By Albert Dadson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 5: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder runs off the court yelling and celebrating after the game against the Utah Jazz on December 5, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 5: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder runs off the court yelling and celebrating after the game against the Utah Jazz on December 5, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Russell Westbrook has been traded from the OKC Thunder to the Houston Rockets. It has been quite a ride for Westbrook, filled with ups and downs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still in the midst of their mass exodus, and it appears Russell Westbrook is the next victim.

According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the OKC Thunder are trading Westbrook for Chris Paul, two future first round picks and two pick swaps. This means that OKC now has eight future first round picks to rebuild its team.

It looks like Steven Adams will be next to head out the door. The Thunder’s two free agent signings in Alec Burks and Mike Muscala were given a chance to reconsider their commitment to the team. Burks is headed to the Golden State Warriors, while Muscala will remain on the team.

This comes after the OKC Thunder traded away Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers so he could play with Kawhi Leonard.

The Thunder were once building to try and win the West, but now they’re in rebuild mode.

Westbrook is the team’s leader in points (18,859), second in assists (6,897), third in steals (1,442) and fourth in games played (821). He has meant so much to this team. He’s been with them through the franchise’s entire lifespan and when he returns to face them next season, it will be special.

He started out his career playing alongside Kevin Durant. Their relationship was close-knit. Durant called Westbrook his Brodie, or his brother. But as Westbrook’s ability and talent grew, it seemed like there was only room for one of them in OKC.

Late in games, Westbrook would take away crucial shots from Kevin Durant that the media saw as Westbrook destroying Durant’s chances to win in the playoffs. When KD had the chance to become a free agent, he took the opportunity to play in a better situation for him to win a championship.

Westbrook stayed loyal to OKC even though he did not have help. In turn, it ended up being a blessing. He won the MVP award after being the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a season.

Heading into the 2017-18 campaign, the Thunder knew they had to get Westbrook help so they ended up trading for Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. This team looked like it was going to do damage. Another Big 3 had been assembled.

Instead, they failed to do anything in the playoffs, as they lost in the first round to a fiery Utah Jazz team. OKC struggled to generate offense and make shots.

The next season, the Thunder traded away Carmelo Anthony and decided to just go with Westbrook and George. Westbrook was able to convince George to stay in OKC and in an extravagant party, they announced that he would be coming back to OKC long-term.

The OKC Thunder seemed great during the first half of the 2018-19 campaign, as they were third in the West for most of the season. Paul George was having an MVP-caliber season and it looked like Russ would finally give up the reins and let somebody else shine once and for all.

Then the last stretch of the season happened. The Thunder had the toughest remaining schedule and it showed as they fell to eighth place at one point. OKC managed to finish was the 6-seed in the West.

In the playoffs, Westbrook’s shooting problems crept up again. He shot 29 percent from 3-point during the regular season and only shot 36.0 percent from the field in the postseason. The Thunder lost the series to the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.

This led to a disgruntled George and Westbrook. They were tired of losing in the first round year in and year out. Kawhi Leonard recruited PG-13, who asked for a trade to join him. After that, Russ met with management and both determined a trade was for the best. Now the Thunder are in a rebuild mode and are without the face of the franchise who led them into so many battles.

Next. 2019 NBA free agency tracker - grades for every deal so far. dark

This fanbase will miss him yelling to the corner of the crowd at every home game, and it will miss the antics after his thunderous dunks. While Westbrook is gone, the Thunder will never forget all that he has done for the team and the city of Oklahoma City.

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder