Sam Presti isn’t ready to unveil the full tribute plan for Russell Westbrook just yet, but the Oklahoma City Thunder executive made it clear the organization is working on something worthy of its first true superstar.
Speaking at his 2026-27 preseason press conference, Presti addressed Westbrook’s NBA retirement and pointed toward a future honor for the former Thunder centerpiece. The exact plan is still being shaped, but the expectation is that Westbrook will eventually be celebrated in a major way by the franchise he helped define.
“I also want to take a moment to congratulate Russell on just an unbelievable career, a Hall of Fame career. We're very fortunate that a lot of those years took place in Oklahoma City,” Presti said.
“Much has been talked about with respect to his on-court play, but I think his attitude, his mentality, those types of things also were huge boosts to our community. I think we're well-regarded and obviously his involvement today here is still pretty remarkable.
So we're really excited and happy for him.”
Westbrook’s place in Thunder history is already secure. He spent the first 11 of his 18 NBA seasons in Oklahoma City, won an MVP, turned the triple-double into must-see theater and became a perennial All-NBA force. Alongside Kevin Durant, he was part of OKC’s first title contender, and his name still sits near the top of the franchise’s statistical leaderboards.
Presti suggested the team does not yet have a firm blueprint, but said the process is underway and will be handled carefully.
“I know people might want to ask me later on if we have plans or what we're going to do to recognize him. I can tell you we don't have a firm plan yet, but we're certainly working on that,” Presti said. “We want to make sure it's done with great intention, and we'll fill you in when we have a chance.”
That leaves the door open for the kind of tribute many around the franchise expect: a No. 0 jersey retirement, and possibly a statue outside the upcoming Continental Coliseum, which is scheduled to open by the 2028-29 season.
Westbrook’s final years in the league were more of a journeyman stretch, but none of that has erased what he meant to Oklahoma City. He remains one of the defining NBA stars of the 2010s, and for Thunder fans, he is still the player most closely tied to the team’s rise.
Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now having passed him as both the best and greatest player in OKC history, Westbrook’s legacy still looms large. He helped lay the foundation for the Thunder’s long run as one of the league’s winningest franchises, and his explosive style and huge stat lines made him impossible to forget.
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