Kevin Durant didn’t hide how he felt when Russell Westbrook announced he was done.
The Rockets star, who spent years alongside Westbrook in Oklahoma City, said the retirement news hit him with a little sadness. The two helped push the Thunder close to an NBA championship, and Durant made it clear he still believes Westbrook had more left in the tank.
“I was a little sad. I thought Russ still had 5 or 6 more years left.
He’s an athletic body that can still impact the game positively. Congrats to him on an iconic career,” Durant said.
Westbrook’s decision caught plenty of people off guard. After spending the summer searching for his next chance, he never found interest from a contending team and then made the sudden call to step away from the NBA.
“Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it's over," Westbrook posted.
Even now, some around the league aren’t convinced the story is finished. Former Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph said he thinks Westbrook could still return.
“This man is supposed to be in the league for another 3-4 years at least. I'd like to see him with the Heat.
Brodie got a lot left in him. I just saw his little brother yesterday Ray.
He might be back," Randolph said.
Westbrook leaves behind a career built on relentless production and a reputation as a triple-double machine, a player who made an impact wherever he landed. Durant’s reaction showed that, even with the ups and downs between them after Durant left Oklahoma City, the respect and connection between the two still runs deep.
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The bigger ripple could be in how Gilgeous-Alexander is able to create for others this season. If Mara continues to give the Thunder a reliable finishing option around the basket, it could help push SGA into more playmaking chances and raise his assist output. And he is not the only rookie benefiting from the way Gilgeous-Alexander draws attention, with Bennett Stirtz also finding room to adapt in preseason while working more off the ball. [Read more 🡒]
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The early returns, though, came with some bumps in the preseason opener, where both guards had trouble finding a rhythm offensively and Oklahoma City had another familiar Dort trait to account for on the glass. The organization still believes in their long-term fit, but there is no hiding the immediate pressure: the Thunder need those minutes to look more stable sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Two-Way Players Just Got A Real Roster Spot Audition
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For Barnhizer especially, the timing matters. He already has some momentum from his previous preseason work and now gets another chance to show he can translate that into something more permanent. For a roster that is still sorting out its final decisions, nights like this can carry extra weight, and the Thunders two-way players suddenly have a much clearer path to making their case. [Read more 🡒]