NBA Fans React to Russell Westbrook, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Exchange

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The Denver Nuggets fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA preseason game on Tuesday night. The loss dropped Denver to 0-4 on the preseason.
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook all missed the game for the Nuggets. Oklahoma City played their usual starters, and were led by All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who finished with a game-high 19 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged into the next great Thunder star. The franchise has had some all-time great players, most notably the duo of Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Westbrook is the greatest player in Thunder history, and has been supportive of Gilgeous-Alexander as he attempts to lead the franchise. The two guards shared a moment after Wednesday’s game.
Via Bally Sports Oklahoma: “Always good to see an old friend 🩵”
Always good to see an old friend 💙@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/XN9FxXF461
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) October 16, 2024
NBA fans have been reacting to this exchange between Westbrook and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Via @TalkinBallOKC: "Torch passed"
Torch passed 🫡🥹
— TALKIN’ BALL PODCAST (@TalkinBallOKC) October 16, 2024
Via @lukemolet97: "The amount of FEELS man…"
The amount of FEELS man… https://t.co/mJRJP3N55r
— Laxative Luke (@lukemolet97) October 16, 2024
Via @chase_mcquade: "Brb gonna cry"
Brb gonna cry😭 https://t.co/sQaeRHkMrS
— Chase (@chase_mcquade) October 16, 2024
Via @RamblingTeller: "Come back to OKC, Russ."
Come back to OKC, Russ. https://t.co/RHHJLTll5N
— Josiah | The Ramblings of a Storyteller (@RamblingTeller) October 16, 2024
Via @Tayler_P15: "🥹🥹🥹"
— Tayler Peterson (@Tayler_P15) October 16, 2024
Gilgeous-Alexander spoke highly of Westbrook when asked about him last season.
“He’s one of the best competitors to ever play the game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "... A really good guy off the court. That’s a guy I’m cool with, we’re friends, he’s just a really good guy.”
I asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander about Russell Westbrook.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 24, 2023
Shai: “He’s one of the best competitors to ever play the game… A really good guy off the court. That’s a guy I’m cool with, we’re friends, he’s just a really good guy.” pic.twitter.com/0Zf2Utt6AS
This meant a lot to Thunder fans who have love for these two point guards.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.