Top 5 Russell Westbrook Thunder Moments Off The Court

Nine time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook announced his retirement on Wednesday and the NBA world is still celebrating the living legend days later.

No fanbase is reliving Westbrook's one of a kind career more or with greater passion than Oklahoma City Thunder fans.

In my last RoundTable entry, I ranked the top five Russell Westbrook moments on the court while he was a member of the Thunder. Because the OKC icon has so many memorable off the court moments as well, I had to split them into two different lists.

Top 5 Russell Westbrook Thunder Moments Off The Court

5. Investing in OKC. Despite being a member of the Denver Nuggets and not having played in Oklahoma City for six seasons, Westbrook showed how committed he is to the future of his second home back in 2024. He invested $10 million into Oklahoma's soccer development and downtown stadium district. Westbrook said at the time that OKC shaped who he was as a person and he was excited to invest in the city's growth.

4. "HAPPY 4th YALL!" When Kevin Durant took the hardest road to the Golden State Warriors on the Fourth of July back in 2016, Thunder fans were devastated. Meanwhile, Westbrook's only response was a cryptic post on Instagram featuring a stack of cupcakes. Only later did the world discover the true meaning behind the picture. And a new nickname for Durant was born.

3. "Whaaat?!" Russell Westbrook has always been known as a superstar on the court and incredibly kind and generous to fans and teammates off the court. The media and Westbrook, however, had a complicated relationship. That resulted in some hilarious locker room and press conference soundbites over the years. But if I had to choose one, it would be Westbrook's response when asked if OKC lost a game or if the Jazz won it.

2. The Real Real MVP. OKC was supposed to fall into obscurity after Kevin Durant fled to The Bay. Instead, Westbrook had one of the greatest and most thrilling seasons in NBA history. Despite Durant and the Warriors winning the title, they weren't the story that year. Westbrook winning the MVP was the headline.

1. Westbrook stays. When Kevin Durant left OKC, every national sportswriter said the Thunder were doomed. Some speculated eternal irrelevancy. Others even speculated the team would leave Oklahoma City. Most everyone said Westbrook would leave. So what did he do? Planted his flag in the small market and signed an extension. OKC already loved him. But this decision is what made him an untouchable living legend in the state.