OKC Should Build Russell Westbrook a Statue, Demands Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins gets honest about Russell Westbrook's legacy with the OKC Thunder.

OKC Should Build Russell Westbrook a Statue, Demands Kendrick Perkins

Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins (Image credits - Bleacher Report)

Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday. The announcement brought an end to an illustrious 18-season career. He will go down as one of the most impressive players of the modern generation.

The 37-year-old was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) as the fourth pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He spent 11 seasons playing for the Thunder. During his spell, he became a perennial All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, an MVP, and led them to their first-ever NBA Finals in 2012.

After being traded to the Thunder, Westbrook played for a number of franchises: Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately, he struggled to find his footing since leaving OKC.

Former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins heaped praise on Westbrook and raised the bar for how OKC should remember its former superstar.

I haven’t spoken to Russ in a minute, but I’ve got real love for Russell Westbrook… Not only should he have his jersey retired in Oklahoma City, but he should also have a statue.After SGA, Russ in my eyes is the second-greatest Thunder of all time.

Kendrick Perkins on NBA Today

Kendrick Perkins and Westbrook shared the locker room during their time with the Thunder. They were teammates when the Thunder were defeated by the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.

Westbrook peaked during his time with the Thunder and was a force to reckon with due to his athleticism. He was widely regarded as the most athletic point guard in NBA history. Alongside Kevin Durant, the two formed one of the most fearsome duos in the NBA. Unfortunately, Westbrook was overly reliant on his athleticism, which led to a steady decline later in his career.

Kendrick Perkins watched Russell Westbrook’s transformation up close

When the Thunder drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively, they picked young stars who could dominate the league for years to come. While Harden left after three seasons, Durant and Westbrook grew into MVP-caliber players.

Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins
Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins (Image credits – Bleacher Report)

Perkins, who saw Westbrook grow up close, spoke about the nine-time All-Star’s transformation into a special player.

When I first got to Oklahoma City, and I played my first game, Scott Brooks called me in to his office, and he said, ‘Let me give you a breakdown real quick of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook: Kevin Durant is our best player, but Russell Westbrook, Perk, he gives us swag. As I started to play these games with Russ, he had the same competitive edge as Kevin Garnett. Out of all the people I played with, those two guys stand out the most when it comes to leaving it all out on the floor every single night.

Kendrick Perkins on NBA Today

Westbrook may not have won the Thunder a championship during his time there, but he gave them some of their most memorable moments in franchise history. He holds the franchise records for most points, rebounds, assists and steals. Hence, a statue for him outside the Paycom Center would be well deserved.

Was Russell Westbrook done?

No teams showed real interest in signing Westbrook after the 2025-26 campaign. Last season for the Kings, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 64 appearances. While teams stayed away from signing him due to his style of play, he did receive some support from the likes of Dillon Brooks. Unfortunately, the former MVP believed that his time in the NBA was up.

SiriusXM’s David Shepard was left surprised by Westbrook’s decision to retire after 18 years.

I’m shocked. All throughout his 18th season with Sacramento, he never suggested or insinuated that he wanted to be done after 2026. I don’t think Russell Westbrook is done. He still has a lot left in the tank. We saw what he did in Sacramento, even though they weren’t all that competitive, he is still fifth in the NBA in triple-doubles. I just can’t think that he’s actually done.

David Shepard on his YouTube channel

The decision to retire will be a hard pill to swallow for Westbrook fans. He did not give any indication that the 2025-26 campaign would be his final season in the NBA. Hence, he did not get the farewell that many believe he deserved.

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