Happy 30th Birthday, Russ!
Today marks the 30th birthday for the Brodie, Russell Westbrook. As we all know, Westbrook has played his entire 11-year (and counting) career in Oklahoma City — giving Thunder fans the privilege of watching him grow up in front of our very eyes on and off the court.
Let’s celebrate his 30th by looking back at some of Westbrook’s best moments in a Thunder uniform.
March 2nd, 2009: The First Triple-Double
The California Cool Kid rookie notches his first career triple-double in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Little did anyone know that this UCLA product would go on to be intertwined with the triple-double forever.
November 26th, 2010: The First 40-point Game
Westbrook recorded his first 40-point game of his career in an early season comeback victory in Indiana against the Pacers in 2010.
2012 Western Semifinals: The Game 5 Flip Shot
En route to the series-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Brodie erupted in one of the most memorable moments in Thunder history.
2012 NBA Finals: Game 4 Stat-Stuffing
After dropping Games 2 and 3 of the NBA Finals, Westbrook explodes for, at the time, a postseason career-high 43 points in a losing effort to the Miami Heat.
November 29th, 2013: Golden State Game-Winner
The Thunder faced a 102-100 deficit to the Golden State Warriors with seconds remaining. After Serge Ibaka failed to convert the game-tying mid-range jumper, the ball found the Brodie with the clock approaching triple zeros.
2014 1st Round: The Game 3 Four-Point Play
With the Thunder trailing 85-81 in the final seconds of regulation, Westbrook comes up with some crunch-time heroics.
2014 1st Round: Forcing OT in Game 5
Staring down the barrel of a crippling 3-2 series deficit going back to Memphis, the Thunder trailed 90-88 in the final seconds with Memphis maintaining possession.
2014 Western Finals: The Game 5 Kawhi Poster
In a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied 2-2, Westbrook arrived at the rack and met future two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi Leonard.
March 4th, 2015: Masked Westbrook
In the midst of an injury-riddled season for the Thunder, Westbrook throws down a massive coast-to-coast dunk while donning a protective mask just days after suffering a dent in his face.
2016 Western Semifinals: Game 5 Heroics
On the verge of a series-defining victory against the favored San Antonio Spurs, the Brodie ices the game and sends the Thunder back to OKC with a 3-2 series lead.
2016 Western Finals: Game 4 Warriors Demolition
The Thunder were putting the final touches of a Game 4 beat down on the 73-win Golden State Warriors. The Thunder took a commanding a 3-1 series lead after Westbrook scored a 2016-postseason high 36 points.
April 9th, 2017: Historic Ending to a Historic Day
After clinching his NBA single-season record 42nd triple-double, Westbrook and Thunder faced a 103-105 deficit with 2.9 seconds remaining in Denver. The game-winning triple gave Westbrook 50 points on the historic Sunday afternoon.
2018 1st Round: The Game 5 Comeback
Trailing by 25 points midway through the third quarter and facing a 3-1 series deficit, Wesbrook refused to let the Thunder’s season end on their home floor. Westbrook sparked the comeback victory with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.
The future Hall-of-Famer has blessed Thunder fans around the world with a career already filled with so many jaw-dropping moments. Here’s to 30 more years of Westbrook.
