Some players return to their old teams to choruses of boos and feelings of bitterness amid rocky endings.
But Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook will seemingly always be in the good graces of Oklahoma City Thunder fans. He received a standing ovation Monday night in Denver’s Game 1 victory like he still played for Oklahoma City.
Westbrook, considered by many as the greatest Thunder player of all time, spent his first 11 seasons with the team before his tours with Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington. He was the Thunder’s co-leader until Kevin Durant’s departure to Golden State, where he then took the sole reins of the team. He led the league thrice in assists, twice in scoring, and was named the 2017 MVP.
In his preview of the first round, Westbrook expressed his love for the team but emphasized the main task at hand.
“That's like home for me,” Westbrook said. “I always got love for everybody there. The people and the fans, and I know it’s mutual. But they also know the reason they love me is because I compete at a high level, and I’m gonna do that every night.”
Westbrook already eliminated one of his former teams in the Los Angeles Clippers, and he’s looking to do the same against his original squad. Though not the same player he was in Oklahoma City, Westbrook has still been an invaluable playmaker for the Nuggets with his effort plays and solid defense. He had 18 points on 53.8 percent shooting off the bench in Game 1, one step closer toward his first conference finals appearance since 2016.
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