Russell Westbrook spent the first eleven seasons of his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, carving out a Hall-of-Fame resume in the process.
An MVP, eight All-NBA selections, two scoring titles and eight All-Star selections are just a few of the accolades Westbrook claimed in his time with the Thunder.
Today, he returned to Chesapeake Energy Arena for the first time as a visitor, as his new squad, the Houston Rockets came to town.
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Westbrook was at his aggressive best on offence, but ultimately the Rockets went down 113-92, in a game that was never really close.
We have all the sights, sounds and reactions from an emotional night in Oklahoma City.
"No regrets"
Russell Westbrook arrives for his first action back in Oklahoma City with the @HoustonRockets!
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2020
🏀: HOU/OKC
⏰: 9:30pm/et
📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/NueQ2hAE4J
A tribute to the Thunder
Russ honors his former team with Thunder-themed kicks 💯👏 pic.twitter.com/4s5B28CVHc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 10, 2020
A tribute from the Thunder
As with all returns, a tribute video was sure to come.
The Thunder played this emotion charged video before Westbrook was announced in the starting line up.
Russ returns to OKC. Here's our tribute video he watched in the arena tonight. pic.twitter.com/tNsf3J8nGe
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 10, 2020
Russ gets introduced
As expected, it was a rousing ovation from the home crowd when Westbrook was announced
.@russwest44 gets introduced in OKC 👏 pic.twitter.com/W2izFqpKnm
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 10, 2020
Fan love for @russwest44 pic.twitter.com/UB1m1AkFEm
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 10, 2020
A strong return
Houston may have been blown out on the scoreboard, though it was no fault of Westbrook's, who finished with 34 points on 14-for-26 shooting.
👏 Russ returns to OKC! 👏@russwest44 puts up a team-high 34 PTS for the @HoustonRockets in his first action back in Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/eUPyHvuye0
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2020
OKC Brothers. #PhantomCam @russwest44 x @RealStevenAdams pic.twitter.com/ZCQx98jsNJ
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2020
The Oklahoma City crowd gave Westbrook one last salute as he left the floor.
Salute #0, @russwest44! pic.twitter.com/gwyJYHWcB6
— NBA (@NBA) January 10, 2020
Sounding off on a big night
Russ has nothing but love and respect for the franchise and city he called home for over a decade.
“I don’t regret anything I did here… they gave me all they had when I gave them all I had.”
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 10, 2020
Russ reflects on return to OKC and thanks Thunder organization for everything. pic.twitter.com/m9mQXsrVWv