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OKC Thunder: Do not wait until Russell Westbrooks legacy night to appreciate him

By Rylan Stiles

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Russell Westbrook #0 of Team Giannis warm up before the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Russell Westbrook #0 of Team Giannis warm up before the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

With the departure of two NBA greats who meant so much to their cities and franchises this week the lesson for OKC Thunder fans to take from this is to appreciate superstar Russell Westbrook while he’s still playing.

In the last two days, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwayne Wade decided to end their 21 and 15 year careers. They received special legacy nights, that the OKC Thunder will eventually put on for Russell Westbrook. Appreciate him now, before we get to that dreaded legacy night.

For me, this is a particularly sad development. While the writing was on the wall for Dirk, how can you prepare to lose your childhood hero?

As a kid, before the Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City to become the OKC Thunder, my favorite basketball team was the Dallas Mavericks.

I remember my first sports heartbreak, crying over the 2006 NBA Finals as a little kid.

I remember the “We Believe” Warriors giving a gut-punch to my childhood,

I remember the Dirk Nowitzki MVP season where he looked like the face of the NBA.

As a kid, I had so many Dirk jerseys, sherseys (Tee Shirt Jerseys) and commemorative tee shirts of his MVP season that one of my elementary school basketball teammates called me Dirk. (and not because of my play on the floor, though I wish I had a killer fade away)

I remember finally getting to see Dirk in person when the Hornets moved to Oklahoma City for a period of time.

Doesn’t that sound familiar?

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