On Monday, June 13th, Russell Westbrook came back to Oklahoma City for an invite-only event at Capitol Hill High School. I was among those in the media to attend Westbrook’s ribbon-cutting ceremony as he opened up a Futsal court at Capitol Hill High School part of Oklahoma Public Schools.
This Futsal court was opened in partnership with Westbrook’s “Why Not?” foundation and will serve the student body at CHHS as well as the surrounding community. Russell Westbrook began his Why Not? Foundation in 2012 and has been helping communities ever since. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was in attendance for the ribbon-cutting event.
On Monday, Russell Westbrook was back home in Oklahoma City to officially open and cut the ribbon on an outdoor Futsal Court at Capitol Hill High School built in partnership with the Why Not Foundation
Given the invite-only nature of the event, the gathering was small made up of media, school staff and students, Mayor David Holt, and of course, Russell Westbrook. This sparked the Mayor to take to the podium and say despite the small gathering “I am legally empowered to speak for all of Oklahoma City, and they would want me to thank Russell Westbrook for his generosity.”
Mayor Holt shared that when Westbrook arrived at the scene and shook the Mayor’s hand Holt leaned into Westbrook and said “welcome home.”
The former Oklahoma City Thunder star echoed that sentiment saying “being back in Oklahoma means so much to me.” Russell Westbrook went on to call OKC his home which just reaffirmed the relationship the community and Westbrook share no matter where his playing career takes him.
As a surprise to all, Mayor David Holt began the ceremony by gifting Russell Westbrook a key to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook walks up to address the crowd after being given a key to city. pic.twitter.com/TsUobBWztO
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) June 13, 2022
In true Oklahoma City fashion, the Thunder made a trade with the Denver Nuggets while Westbrook’s ribbon cutting and key to the city ceremony was going on.