Оклахома Сити Тандер багийн ерөнхий менежер Сэм Прести багийн түүхэн дэх шилдэг тоглогчдын нэг Расселл Уэстбүүрт хүндэтгэл үзүүлэхээр ажиллаж байгаагаа баталлаа.
Оклахома Сити Тандер багийн гүйцэтгэх дэд ерөнхийлөгч бөгөөд ерөнхий менежер Сэм Прести багийн түүхэнд томоохон байр суурь эзэлдэг Расселл Уэстбүүрт зориулсан тусгай арга хэмжээг төлөвлөж байгаагаа мэдэгдлээ. Прести Уэстбүүрийн гайхалтай замналыг онцлон тэмдэглээд, түүний NBA-д үзүүлсэн амжилтын олон жил Оклахома Ситид өнгөрсөнд багийнхан ихэд талархаж явдгаа илэрхийлсэн юм. Одоогоор хүндэтгэл үзүүлэх арга хэмжээний нарийн төлөвлөгөө эцэслэгдээгүй байгаа ч багийн зүгээс үүнийг яаравчлах бус, утга учиртай байлгахыг зорьж байна.
Расселл Уэстбүүр 2008 оны NBA Draft-ийн дөрөв дэх сонголтоор Тандерт ирсэн цагаасаа хойш багийнхаа төлөө 11 улирлыг өнгөрүүлсэн юм. Тэрээр 2012 оны NBA Finals-д багтайгаа хамт шалгарч, 2016-17 оны улиралд NBA-ийн үнэ цэнтэй тоглогчоор (MVP) шалгарахдаа улирлын туршид “triple-double” дунджилсан анхны тоглогч болсон түүхтэй. Уэстбүүр карьерынхаа туршид нийт дөрвөн удаа улирлыг “triple-double”-аар өндөрлүүлж, лигийн түүхэн дэх хамгийн олон талт тоглогчдын нэг гэдгээ нотолсон юм.
Тэрээр Оклахома Ситийн хөгжөөн дэмжигчидтэй гүн гүнзгий холбоотой байж, 2016 онд Кэвин Дурантыг явсны дараа гэрээгээ сунгасан нь түүний багтаа үнэнч байдлыг илтгэсэн чухал мөч болсон билээ. Удахгүй буюу арван нэгдүгээр сарын 2-нд Оклахома Ситигийн Үндэсний дурсгалын музейд Расселл Уэстбүүрийн олон нийтэд оруулсан хувь нэмэр болон сагсан бөмбөгийн замналыг нь хүндэтгэн тусгай арга хэмжээ зохион байгуулахаар товлогджээ.
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Russell Westbrook’s impact on the Oklahoma City Thunder remains deeply appreciated by the organization that helped launch his NBA career. Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti has confirmed that the franchise is working on a special tribute to its former superstar, although the details have yet to be finalized.
Speaking about Westbrook, Presti praised the former NBA MVP for his remarkable career and the years he spent establishing Oklahoma City as a basketball destination.
“I also want to take a moment to congratulate Russell on just an unbelievable career. A Hall of Fame career,” Presti said. “We are very fortunate that a lot of those years took place in Oklahoma City.”
Sam Presti: “I also want to take a moment to congratulate Russell [Westbrook] on just an unbelievable career. A Hall of Fame career. We are very fortunate that a lot of those years took place in Oklahoma City.”
Sam says they don’t have a firm plan yet to honor Russell Westbrook,… pic.twitter.com/kJQoEB4EjS
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) September 24, 2026
Westbrook spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Thunder after the franchise selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He became one of the defining figures in the team’s early history, helping Oklahoma City reach the 2012 NBA Finals alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden.
His individual accomplishments were equally significant. Westbrook won the 2016–17 NBA MVP award after becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire season. He went on to accomplish the feat three more times, establishing himself as one of the most prolific all-around players in league history.
Beyond the numbers, Westbrook developed a particularly strong connection with Oklahoma City. His decision to sign a contract extension following Durant’s departure in 2016 further strengthened his relationship with Thunder fans, who embraced his intensity and loyalty to the franchise.
Presti acknowledged that the organization has not settled on a specific plan to honor Westbrook but emphasized that it wants the eventual tribute to be meaningful rather than rushed.
In the meantime, Westbrook is scheduled to receive another recognition in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum will honor him on November 2, celebrating his connection to the community and his contributions beyond basketball.
While the Thunder have yet to announce the details of their own tribute, Presti’s comments make clear that Westbrook’s place in the franchise’s history has not been forgotten.
From the team’s earliest seasons in Oklahoma City to his MVP campaign and enduring relationship with its fans, Westbrook helped shape the Thunder’s identity. The organization now intends to recognize that legacy with a tribute befitting his contributions.
The post Thunder Planning Special Tribute To Russell Westbrook As Sam Presti Celebrates His Legacy appeared first on OpenCourt Basketball.
