What Russell Westbrook Said After Eliminating the team that rejected him!
What Russell Westbrook Said After Eliminating the Team That Rejected Him
By [Your News Outlet], May 4, 2025
LOS ANGELES — The roar of the Crypto.com Arena crowd was deafening. Confetti rained down, and teammates hugged each other in jubilation as the final buzzer sounded. The Los Angeles Clippers had just defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round, securing their spot in the second round. But for one player, the victory meant more than just a series win — it was personal.
Russell Westbrook, the former league MVP, had just eliminated the very franchise that once called him the face of the team, only to later trade and move on from him in pursuit of a younger core. His performance throughout the series was vintage Westbrook — passionate, intense, and unapologetically emotional.
And when the game ended, Westbrook finally had his moment.
Standing on the court with a towel draped over his head, the 36-year-old veteran didn’t hold back during his postgame interview.
“I never forget,” Westbrook said, his voice firm but composed. “They moved on. That’s fine. That’s their choice. But I always said — you’re going to have to see me again. And when that time came, I was going to be ready.”
A Statement Game and a Statement Series
Over the six-game series, Westbrook averaged 19.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.2 rebounds, outplaying Oklahoma City’s young backcourt duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey in crucial moments. But it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was the manner in which Westbrook led — diving for loose balls, barking at teammates, energizing the crowd, and defending with purpose.
In Game 6, Westbrook posted a near triple-double: 21 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, plus two clutch steals in the fourth quarter that helped seal the 117–112 victory.
After the game, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue praised his veteran guard.
“Russ is the heart of this team,” Lue said. “He took this matchup personally, and you could feel that from Game 1. He set the tone for us.”
The Thunder Years — A Complicated Legacy
Westbrook’s journey with the Oklahoma City Thunder is one of the most storied in modern NBA history. Drafted fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 — just before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City — Westbrook was a foundational piece of the Thunder’s rise to contention.
Alongside Kevin Durant and later James Harden, Westbrook helped lead OKC to the NBA Finals in 2012. After Durant’s shocking departure in 2016, Westbrook stayed — a decision that endeared him to the fanbase. He responded by averaging a triple-double and winning MVP in 2017.
But as the franchise shifted toward a rebuild, Westbrook was traded in 2019 to the Houston Rockets, beginning a journey through several teams — Washington, the Lakers, and eventually the Clippers.
“They said I wasn’t part of the future anymore,” Westbrook reflected in the press conference. “That’s fair — this is a business. But don’t act like I wasn’t part of your past. Don’t act like I didn’t give everything I had for that city, that jersey.”
Fueling the Fire
Though Westbrook rarely calls out opponents or organizations directly, sources close to the player say he had circled this potential matchup the moment the Clippers secured the No. 5 seed and the Thunder were locked in at No. 4.
“He was dialed in from the moment we knew we were playing OKC,” said Clippers forward Paul George, who himself was once traded by the Thunder. “People forget — Russ has an elephant’s memory. He plays with his heart, and when that heart gets crossed, it’s war.”
Westbrook never explicitly expressed animosity toward Thunder GM Sam Presti, but his subtle jabs during media appearances hinted at unfinished business.
“They said they were trying to ‘move in a new direction,'” Westbrook said postgame. “That’s cool. I just made sure that direction went home early.”
The Respect — and the Silence — from the Thunder
To their credit, the Thunder players and staff remained professional in the face of elimination. Head coach Mark Daigneault praised Westbrook’s performance and acknowledged the emotions behind the series.
“We knew he was going to come with everything,” Daigneault said. “That’s who he is. He’s a competitor. A warrior. You can’t take away what he meant to this franchise.”
But when asked directly about Westbrook’s comments, Thunder GM Sam Presti declined to comment.
The silence, in many ways, said enough.
Redemption, Not Revenge?
Some analysts framed Westbrook’s performance as a revenge tour, a chance for vindication. But to those who’ve followed his career closely, the motivation runs deeper.
“This wasn’t about payback,” said Kendrick Perkins, former teammate and ESPN analyst. “This was about pride. Russ gave that city everything. He stayed when others left. And when they let him go, it hurt. You could see it. But instead of complaining, he kept working. And now, he’s showing people he ain’t done yet.”
The City of Los Angeles Embraces Him
When Westbrook arrived at the Clippers after a tumultuous Lakers stint, many questioned if he had anything left. His energy seemed mismatched with the Lakers’ slower pace, and chemistry never fully developed. But the Clippers embraced him — and in return, Westbrook flourished.
Fans at Crypto.com Arena chanted his name throughout Game 6, culminating in a thunderous “RUSS-ELL! RUSS-ELL!” as he walked off the court.
“I’ve been through a lot,” he said. “They tried to say I was washed. They tried to say I couldn’t fit in. All I needed was a chance — and a team that believed in me.”
What’s Next?
The Clippers now move on to face the Denver Nuggets in the second round — a formidable challenge. But with Westbrook playing inspired basketball, anything feels possible.
“I’m not done,” he said, looking around the locker room. “We’re not done. This is just the beginning.”
And perhaps that’s the true story — not just of elimination or redemption, but of a man who refused to be defined by the opinions of others.
As Westbrook left the arena that night, reporters followed him through the tunnel. One called out, asking if this series win was the sweetest of his career.
Westbrook stopped, turned, and grinned.
“Sweet?” he said. “It’s not sweet. It’s necessary.”
Behind the Scenes: The Motivation That Drove Him
In the lead-up to the series, Westbrook was reportedly watching old game footage from his Thunder days — not out of nostalgia, but as fuel.
“He’d watch clips from 2017, from the MVP year,” said a team staffer who requested anonymity. “You could see he wanted to tap into that version of himself — the guy who carried a franchise on his back.”
Before Game 1, Westbrook allegedly wrote on a whiteboard in the locker room: “Let them remember.” That same phrase was scribbled on his sneakers during the final game.
Fan Reactions and Online Buzz
The internet exploded after Westbrook’s postgame comments. On social media, #LetThemRemember and #RussRevenge trended worldwide, with fans and former players praising his grit.
Even Kevin Durant, now with the Phoenix Suns, tweeted:
“Love him or hate him — Russ is built different. Always has been.”
Longtime Westbrook critic Skip Bayless offered a rare olive branch:
“Russell Westbrook proved me wrong this series. That man played with purpose. Respect.”
The Final Word
For Russell Westbrook, this wasn’t just a playoff series. It was a chapter he needed to close, not with bitterness, but with brilliance.
He didn’t just eliminate a team — he reclaimed his narrative.
And in a league that often forgets yesterday’s stars in search of tomorrow’s promise, Westbrook offered a simple reminder:
Never count out a man with something to prove.
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