Thunder to Retire Russell Westbrook's No. 0 Jersey in February

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that the franchise will officially retire the No. 0 jersey of legendary guard Russell Westbrook. The tribute ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027, when the Thunder host the New York Knicks at the Paycom Center.

Westbrook, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in August after an 18-year NBA career, spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Oklahoma City. Selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, he quickly developed into the face of the franchise and established himself as one of the most explosive players in league history.

During his tenure with the Thunder, Westbrook earned nine All-Star selections and captured the 2016-17 NBA MVP award. In that historic MVP campaign, he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 season to average a triple-double over an entire year. He also broke a single-season NBA record by posting 42 triple-doubles that year and helped guide Oklahoma City to the 2012 NBA Finals.

Westbrook departs the game as the NBA's all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 209. In addition to his league records, he finishes his career in Oklahoma City as the franchise's all-time leader in games played (821), total points (18,859), rebounds (5,760), assists (6,897), steals (1,442), and minutes played (28,329).

Following his departure from Oklahoma City following the 2018-19 season, Westbrook played for several other teams, including the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings. Despite playing elsewhere, he routinely received warm welcomes and loud ovations from the Oklahoma City fanbase whenever he returned to the Paycom Center.

Thunder leadership emphasized that Westbrook's impact extended far beyond his on-court statistics, highlighting his deep connection to the local community. Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett praised the guard's genuine care for the people of Oklahoma, noting that he will always be considered a member of the local community.

Thunder General Manager Sam Presti also released a statement honoring the franchise legend, stating that Westbrook's relentless mindset and deep commitment built a legacy that will be forever remembered. "Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy. Russell Westbrook’s legacy was built both on the court and in the community," Presti said.

When his No. 0 is raised to the rafters, Westbrook will join Nick Collison as the only players in Thunder franchise history to have their numbers retired.