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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
Russell Westbrook, Paul George, OKC Thunder (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Appreciate Russell Westbrook

Through it all, Russell Westbrook has been the one constant. He has been with the OKC Thunder since the beginning. He went through the short livid PJ Carlesimo era, the first ever NBA Finals runs in OKC, the James Harden trade, the injuries that halted what could have been a promising playoff run, Scott Brooks, Klay Thompson‘s game six and blowing a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

He suffered Kevin Durant‘s stunning departure, brought the second MVP season to OKC, averaging a triple-double for just the second time in NBA history, then did it the following two years as well.

Seeing OKC try to form their own superteam this time via trades for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony instead of the draft. Losing in the first round to a rookie and Ricky Rubio, re-signing Paul George the teams biggest signing in franchise history, and now this season.

This season is yet to be written but has featured a post All-Star break collapse before things turned up OKC Thunder on the last day of the season.

Russell Westbrook dealt with it always being his fault. From fans to the media, we all were guilty of blaming Russell Westbrook throughout the Kevin Durant era. If you say you did not, save it, that is revisionist history. We all love Westbrook now, but everyone tried to protect Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was the brunt of it.

When the Oklahoman wrote one negative headline about Kevin Durant, they apologized the very next day and penned a retraction.

Just last week an Oklahoman writer made up a story about how terribly disrespectful Russell Westbrook is to his coach.

He never held a grudge, besides with Berry Tramel,  he never let it get to him.

Now? He is the most beloved athlete in Oklahoma Sports history.

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