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An open letter to Russell Westbrook, Thank You

By Sean Reece

Apr 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) yells as he takes the floor prior to action against the Dallas Mavericks in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) yells as he takes the floor prior to action against the Dallas Mavericks in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Russell Westbrook
Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Hope:

In just his second season with the team, the Thunder more than doubled their wins from Westbrook’s first year. Winning 50 games and qualifying for the 2010 playoffs. In a first round match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers, the outcome seemed inevitable. But, not without some fight did the Thunder lose to the eventual champions.

Losing in heart-breaking fashion to the Lakers in game six, it gave Oklahoma City and their team hope. Pushing the Lakers to six games when all of their stars were barely old enough to drink, was really impressive.

Related: Five Ways the OKC Thunder Can Stop Harden

Westbrook, Durant and Harden seemed to be one of the up and coming teams in the NBA. In 2011, the Thunder got even farther, making it to the Western Conference Finals but losing to the eventual champions, Dallas Mavericks in five games.

In 2012, the Thunder emerged as one of the best teams in the league. Making it to their first NBA Finals as a young team, they faced up against Goliath. LeBron James and the Heat were looking for revenge after losing to the Mavericks the year before.

They got their revenge and would defeat the Thunder in five games. But it did offer major optimism for the Thunder and their fans. A core of Westbrook, Durant, Harden and Ibaka. All under 25 years old, with nothing but potential higher than the clouds.

But the potential would turn into tragedy.

With all four of the Thunder’s core coming to their first big contract negotiations, Presti had some big decisions to make as did the players. We obviously knew that all four of these players had major potential.

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