After Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant Set to Get Major OKC Honor, Says Insider

Earlier this November, OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti surprised Russell Westbrook during the franchise's Day One Luncheon. Presti announced that the Thunder will retire Westbrook's jersey No. 0 on Feb. 7, 2027, when the team faces the defending champions, the New York Knicks.

It's undeniably a well-deserved honor for Westbrook as he is one of the NBA legends that helped establish the Thunder's position in the league before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's era. However, another notable name comes to mind when you talk about OKC, and that's Kevin Durant. When KD and Russ played together in OKC, Durant was the primary star. Having that in mind, many are wondering if the Thunder will retire Durant's jersey No. 35.

"I do think it is coming," sports columnist Berry Tramel said in a recent airing of SiriusXM NBA Radio. "I think there'll have to be an ownership change. But I think it'll have to be after that. I think there's too much bitterness … from both sides. It's still not a great situation… The Thunder and Oklahoma City did not make Kevin Durant, he helped make the Thunder."

The bitterness Tramel mentioned stems from when Durant left the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016. It was a move that shocked many. In that same year, it was the Warriors who eliminated the Thunder from the playoffs, denying them an opportunity to compete for a title against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Thunder's collapse from a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals contributed to the context around Durant's free-agency decision, as he moved to Golden State to chase after the NBA championship he so desperately wanted. This created a friction between KD and OKC as a whole.

However, as the saying goes, time heals all wounds. Westbrook and Durant have publicly expressed mutual respect, and both stars have publicly acknowledged their respect for each other. Having said that, it's only a matter of time until the Thunder franchise will gladly accept KD back into OKC's culture.

Russell Westbrook Shares What OKC Means to Him

After OKC Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced his plans to retire Russell Westbrook's jersey, the NBA legend shared how much the team and the city meant to him throughout his career.

"I came out (in Oklahoma City) by myself," Westbrook said. "Trying to figure out life at 19 and trying to understand what's like to grow into a young man… Being able to come here, being able to be in Oklahoma City just changed my trip through life … me and my friends always talk about how Oklahoma City has the nicest, kindest people in the world, and I truly believe that."

During Westbrook's time with the Thunder, he was a one-time NBA MVP, a nine-time NBA All-Star (eight of those selections with OKC), and a nine-time All-NBA selection (eight of those with OKC). He also set the single-season triple-double record and averaged a triple-double in multiple seasons while with the Thunder (later breaking Oscar Robertson's career triple-double record while with the Wizards).

Despite never winning the championship both with the Thunder and in his career, OKC will forever cherish the contributions Westbrook made to help establish the team in the NBA.