Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook received a warm welcome from the fans at Paycom Center as he checked into the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the five-minute mark.
With Game 1 of the Nuggets-Thunder series underway, Thunder fans welcomed their former superstar and franchise player with a standing ovation on Monday night.
Russell Westbrook receives a standing ovation in OKC 🔥
(🎥 @RyanGreeneDNVR )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 6, 2025
Russell Westbrook was one of the most pivotal players for the Oklahoma City Thunder during his time with the franchise. Westbrook developed into a household name with the team. His essence as a player is deeply ingrained in OKC’s history, given what he has achieved with the team.
Westbrook was part of the first generation of superstars the Thunder had since transitioning from the Seattle SuperSonics. Alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, he led the team to an NBA Finals appearance against the Miami Heat in 2012.
Although the team saw a lot of changes to the roster after Harden and Durant left, Westbrook remained with the side and single-handedly carried the team to the playoffs on multiple occasions.
During his time with the Thunder, Westbrook recorded an average of 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. His best season with the team was his 2016-17 campaign when he won the MVP award, the scoring title, and was named to the All-NBA First Team. He recorded an average of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists that season.
After 11 years with the Thunder, Westbrook left to join the Houston Rockets in the 2019-20 season. Although he wasn’t the same player with the other teams he has been on since, the 36-year-old guard has shown new signs of life this season with the Nuggets.
Now, featuring in the Nuggets’ postseason run, Westbrook has been a vital piece in their success.
Russell Westbrook’s Crucial Contributions To Denver
Although Russell Westbrook has been the centerpiece of some controversial internal matters with the Nuggets, it is hard to overlook how crucial he has been to their success this season. Westbrook has offered a great deal of flexibility to Denver when coming off the bench. This has been a largely beneficial element in the postseason.
Westbrook’s contributions in the first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers were best seen in the win in Game 7. In an elimination situation, the Nuggets guard recorded 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists in only 27 minutes of game time. He was highly efficient as well, as he shot 55.6% from the field and a remarkable 50% from beyond the arc.
Heading into this series against the Thunder, Westbrook will be extremely important in sustaining the Nuggets’ offensive effort. With a lot of this series being fought on the rebounding glass, the guard will need to contribute significantly to securing possession for his team.
