RUSS YOU OBVIOUSLY MEAN A LOT TO THE OKC THUNDER ORGANIZATION. AND YOU’VE PLAYED AGAINST THEM BEFORE. BUT WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WHERE YOUR CAREER GOT STARTED AND FACE A TEAM THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH? I WAS FIRST, I DON’T KNOW, I ALWAYS GOT LIKE I TOLD YOU, THAT’S THAT’S LIKE HOME FOR ME. I ALWAYS GOT LOVE FOR EVERYBODY THERE, THE PEOPLE, THE FANS. AND I KNOW IT’S MUTUAL, BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THE REASON WHY THEY DO LOVE ME, BECAUSE I COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL AND I’M GOING TO DO THAT EVERY NIGHT. RUSSELL WESTBROOK AFTER THE GAME YESTERDAY. HE’LL BE HERE FOR A PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OKLAHOMA CITY. AS AN OPPONENT. YOU KNOW HE PLAYED 98 PLAYOFF GAMES WITH OKLAHOMA CITY. IT’S NOT HIS FIRST TO PLAY AGAINST HIM. HE PLAYED IN THE BUBBLE IN 2020 FOR THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. BUT IT’S THE FIRST TIME HERE THAT’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE. HE EVEN SAID LIKE HE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IS HIS FIRST TIME. RIGHT. AND IT’S MY FIRST TIME TO WATCH THIS ONE. SO IN PERSON, I’M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE FANS REACT AND JUST WHAT IT’S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. IT WILL BE QUITE THE THE ATMOSPHERE. THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. HE IS THE GREATEST PLAYER IN OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER HISTORY. HIS NAME WILL ONE DAY BE LITTERED IN THE ROOFTOP OF THAT STADIUM. AND AND IT’S FUN TO LOOK BACK AT RUSS. HERE’S RUSSELL WESTBROOK WITH OKLAHOMA CITY BY THE NUMBERS. WESTBROOK WOW. OH GOODNESS. OH BUT THEN SETS THE SCREEN FOR WESTBROOK. AND IT’S GETTING NASTY DOWN THERE. LET’S START WITH THE NUMBER ONE. HE IS GOING TO BE ALL BY HIMSELF RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS NUMBER ONE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY IN POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS STEALS AND MINUTES ALL THE WAY TO THE BASKET. AND THE BUCKET. AND THE ONLY PLAYER IN THUNDER HISTORY TO WIN TWO ALL-STAR GAME MVP. WESTBROOK. OH HE HAMMERS IT HOME TO GO ALONG WITH HIS TWO SCORING TITLES. OH WESTBROOK AND THREE STRAIGHT SEASONS TO AVERAGE A TRIPLE DOUBLE. AND THE ALL TIME NUMBER IS 42. DEEP SHOT. MORE TRIPLE DOUBLES IN A SEASON THAN ANYONE IN NBA HISTORY. WHAT A PERFECT ENDING TO A HISTORIC DAY. AND THE FINAL NUMBER IS ZERO. RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS THE ONLY PLAYER WHO WILL EVER WEAR THAT NUMBER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE WORN FOREVER. MVP. AND SOMEDAY, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON THE BRIGHT EYED KID FROM CALIFORNIA AND THE NUCLEAR ATHLETICISM SLOWS, THE MVP CHANTS GO QUIET. AND THAT SCOWL TURNS TO A SMILE. SOMEDAY, THE NUMBER ZERO WILL BE RAISED AND HANG FOREVER NEXT TO THE NUMBER FOUR, BECAUSE THAT NUMBER ZERO LEFT A LEGACY THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OKLAHOMA CITY. MAN, IT’S GOING TO BE FUN. THAT’S JUST ADDED A WHOLE NOTHER LAYER AND JUICE TO THE WHOLE THING. THIS IS WHAT HE DID AGAINST THE LA CLIPPERS. HE SHOT THE BALL REALLY WELL. IF HE SHOOTS IT WELL IN THIS SERIES, THAT’S CERTAINLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR THE DENVER NUGGETS. BUT LOOK IT’S GOING TO BE COOL TO SEE HIM. NO ONE WEARING THUNDER BLUE OR IN THAT ARENA REALLY IS GOING TO BE ROOTING FOR HIM TO PLAY REALLY WELL. BUT EVERYBODY LOVES RUSS, MAN. IT JUST IS. A WARM WELCOME IS SET TO HAPPEN. THERE’LL BE A WARM WELCOME AND THEN THEY’LL WANT TO BEAT HIS BRAINS IN. BUT THAT HE WOULDN’T HE WO
Looking back at Russell Westbrook’s storied career in OKC as he faces Thunder in playoffs
Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City fans are about to be in some unfamiliar territory as the Thunder and Denver Nuggets are about to face off in the playoffs.
Updated: 2:03 PM CDT May 5, 2025
Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City fans are about to be in some unfamiliar territory as the Thunder and Denver Nuggets are about to face off in the playoffs. >> KOCO 5 Sports Director Bryan Keating looks at Russell Westbrook’s amazing career as a Thunder by the numbers. Open the video player above to watch.With the Nuggets advancing to the Western Conference semifinals, Russell Westbrook will be in a playoff game in Oklahoma City for the first time as an opponent. He has played against the Thunder in the playoffs before, but it was while in the bubble during the COVID-19-impacted season. Westbrook played 98 playoff games as a Thunder, helping lead Oklahoma City to multiple Western Conference Finals appearances and to one NBA Finals in 2012. The 2017 MVP has played in Oklahoma City as an opponent during the regular season, getting a very warm reception the last time the Nuggets played at the Paycom Center. While Westbrook said he doesn’t know what to expect when the playoff series starts in Oklahoma City, he has love for the city and Thunder fans. >> Crashing the Boards: Thunder’s supporting cast needs to star in Western Conference semifinals. Open the video player below to watch.”That’s like home for me. I’ve always got love for everybody there, the people, the fans. I know it’s mutual, but they also know the reason why they do love me is I compete at a high level, and Imma do that every night,” Westbrook said about playing against the Thunder in the playoffs. KOCO 5 Sports Director Bryan Keating calls Westbrook the greatest player in Thunder history, and his name and jersey number will one day hang from the rafters in Oklahoma City. Video Below: Looking at the Thunder’s schedule during the Western Conference semifinalsWestbrook is coming into the Western Conference semifinals after performing well in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 13.8 points per game and shot 41.9% from 3-point range. Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Thunder and Nuggets tips off at 8:30 p.m. Monday. The game will be televised on TNT. Top Headlines Missing 10-year-old boy at center of search in northwest OKC found safe From meme to movement: A breakdown of DOGE’s first 100 days The best stadium-approved bags, purses and totes for your next trip to the ballpark 3 killed, 5 injured after mass shooting at restaurant outside Phoenix Police: One person taken to hospital after shooting in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City fans are about to be in some unfamiliar territory as the Thunder and Denver Nuggets are about to face off in the playoffs.
>> KOCO 5 Sports Director Bryan Keating looks at Russell Westbrook’s amazing career as a Thunder by the numbers. Open the video player above to watch.
With the Nuggets advancing to the Western Conference semifinals, Russell Westbrook will be in a playoff game in Oklahoma City for the first time as an opponent. He has played against the Thunder in the playoffs before, but it was while in the bubble during the COVID-19-impacted season.
Westbrook played 98 playoff games as a Thunder, helping lead Oklahoma City to multiple Western Conference Finals appearances and to one NBA Finals in 2012.
The 2017 MVP has played in Oklahoma City as an opponent during the regular season, getting a very warm reception the last time the Nuggets played at the Paycom Center. While Westbrook said he doesn’t know what to expect when the playoff series starts in Oklahoma City, he has love for the city and Thunder fans.
>> Crashing the Boards: Thunder’s supporting cast needs to star in Western Conference semifinals. Open the video player below to watch.
“That’s like home for me. I’ve always got love for everybody there, the people, the fans. I know it’s mutual, but they also know the reason why they do love me is I compete at a high level, and Imma do that every night,” Westbrook said about playing against the Thunder in the playoffs.
KOCO 5 Sports Director Bryan Keating calls Westbrook the greatest player in Thunder history, and his name and jersey number will one day hang from the rafters in Oklahoma City.
Video Below: Looking at the Thunder’s schedule during the Western Conference semifinals
Westbrook is coming into the Western Conference semifinals after performing well in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 13.8 points per game and shot 41.9% from 3-point range.
Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Thunder and Nuggets tips off at 8:30 p.m. Monday. The game will be televised on TNT.
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