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Officially closing the books on one of the more epic careers in NBA history, Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the game. The future Hall-of-Famer had one of the more legendary runs and is one of the era-defining superstars of the 2010s.
Even if the final one-third of Westbrook's career was rocky, he chiseled his name in basketball lore for his incredible achievements with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent the first 11 of his 18 seasons there. In that time, he morphed into an NBA megastar and eventually a global celebrity.
In his time in OKC, Westbrook was a one-time MVP winner. Most of his nine-time All-Star bids and nine-time All-NBA selections happened on the Thunder. Alongside Kevin Durant, he co-starred for OKC's first title contender as one of the league's top teams of that era. They had one NBA Finals appearance and four Western Conference Finals trips in six of their eight seasons together.
Westbrook completely redefined the triple-double. For most of the league's history, if you recorded one, that was the leading story the following day. It was basketball's equivalent to hitting for the cycle. But then he single-handedly normalized the statistical achievement.
For 55 years, Oscar Robertson was the only player who claimed to have averaged a triple-double for an entire regular season. Westbrook then ended that drought in his epic 2016-17 revenge tour as he won his role MVP trophy to cement his status as an all-time great. And for good measure, he rattled off four triple-double stat-line campaigns in a five-year span.
We can go eons talking about what he's accomplished in his time in the NBA. All that said, Westbrook is universally viewed as one of the three greatest and best players in Thunder history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might've usurped him for both crowns recently, but you can't take away the 37-year-old's bragging rights of being the first NBA superstar that OKC truly fell in love with.
Considering their deep history and affinity for each other, it shouldn't be a shocker that everybody expects the Thunder to eventually retire Westbrook's No. 0 jersey. There's a reason why nobody has worn that number since he was traded in 2019.
If it were up to Jalen Williams, Westbrook's jersey retirement would happen ASAP. He recently took to social media to suggest that it happens on OKC's home opener. The Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, Oct. 22. That'll be on national TV too, via ESPN.
Williams posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday: "dare I say opening night…"
I know Williams suggested Opening Night, but surely he meant OKC's home opener. Would be a little daring and unprecedented for the San Antonio Spurs to retire Westbrook's number. Especially since he never played for them during his lengthy career.
Williams has always been open about his admiration for Westbrook over the years. The 25-year-old witnessed the peak of Westbrook's powers during his high school days. So the nostalgia is definitely there and authentic. The All-NBA forward has taken to social media to post some of his career highlights and repost tribute videos over the last couple of days since he announced his retirement.
Think it's just a matter of when for Westbrook to be back in OKC and see his No. 0 raised in the Paycom Center rafters. If I had to guess, sooner rather than later. Especially considering Nick Collison had his No. 4 retired in the immediate season after he called it a career. It's cool to see Williams vouch for Westbrook. Really symbolizes the current era respecting the past era's accomplishments.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Jalen Williams hopes to see OKC retire Russell Westbrook's jersey in home opener
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