Sam Presti Issues Statement on Russell Westbrook Retiring

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Russell Westbrook retire from the NBA, Sam Presti released a statement.

Nov 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wednesday afternoon was a bittersweet day in Oklahoma City. Thunder franchise icon Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA after an 18 year career. His prime was spent in Bricktown as a pillar of the Thunder organization. Many residents in Oklahoma City name Westbrook as their first –– and still current –– favorite NBA player of all time.

In Oklahoma City, Westbrook built his Hall of Fame Career. He averaged a triple double three times while sporting a Thunder jersey and did so four times in his NBA career. A feat no one thought possible in the Modern era was a half decade routine for the Thunder legend.

While he never captured that elusive championship. Westbrook not only produced nine All-Star and as many All-NBA nods to go along with a pair of scoring titles, a trio of assist titles, two All-Star game MVP trophies and an NBA MVP award but he made a massive impact on the communities he played in.

Still to this day, Westbrook is a key cog in Oklahoma City independant of basketball being involved in the new multi-purpose stadium opening up in 2028 for professional soccer and football being played in Bricktown. The countless libraries and revamped community projects he was part of to earn a key to the City from Mayor David Holt and the willingness to be the face of a landlocked fly over city.

Westbrook gave the Thunder a face, a rock and credibility in his tenure. Especially when Kevin Durant ditched the team to go to the Bay Area. The Thunder were at a crossroads, many wrote off the entire franchise. Westbrook stayed and steadied the team, leading to the eventual championship season in 2025 on the foundation that the UCLA product built.

After one of the greatest players to put on an NBA uniform retired, Thunder general manager Sam Presti relesed the following statement on the news.

"Russell Westbrook is the ultimate competitor. His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008 and he elevated the confidence and inspired our community in every year thereafter. Russell will be as successful in his life after basketball as he was during his career because his qualities and gifts transfer. His impact on our community is still felt today, and he is beloved for his devotion as much as his talent. He built a Hall of Fame career not by making statements or simply by breaking records, he did it by showing us all the power of asking one simple question: Why Not?," Presti said in his statement on Wednesday evening.

Westbrook will be a first ballot Hall of Fame player, he is already a member of the NBA's top 75 player list and will soon have his jersey hanging in the rafters.