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Russell Westbrook thanked fans in Oklahoma City on Friday night in a very heartfelt Instagram message, saying he was "forever grateful" for the 11 years spent in the Thunder 's uniform.
The Thunder agreed Thursday night on a major contract to send Westbrook to Houston, reuniting him with former Oklahoma City teammate James Harden. The Rockets will send Chris Paul, two first-round protected selections (2024 and 2026) and two selections (2021 and 2025) to Oklahoma City, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said.
See this post on Instagram
I can not even begin to express in words all the emotions I currently have. It was a great trip to Oklahoma! When I arrived here, I was 18, with bright eyes and completely unaware of all the incredible things that were going to unfold soon. I grew up in Oklahoma with an amazing group of people. The people here are what makes this place so special. From the fans, my coaches, my teammates, all the organization Thunder, Mr. Bennett, Sam Presti, my friends and all the members of the community. You are all what makes Oklahoma such a beautiful place and the reason I loved playing here all this time. You have supported me throughout the ups and downs and you have stood by my side during the good and the bad times. I am eternally grateful to you. I have met so many great people who have helped me become the man I am today. I hope to have touched as much the community of Oklahoma as Oklahoma has had an impact on me and my family. I leave Oklahoma with so many friends and a lot of gratitude. I could never thank you enough for staying with me. It was a dream and a whirlwind. #WHY NOT
Meanwhile, Harden appeared at a basketball event on Friday and was asked about the agreed deal that will pair the two top scorers in the NBA over the past five seasons: Harden with 11,958 points and Westbrook with 10,025.
"When I left OKC, I was sad, and then Houston built me a house," Harden said. "Rockets is my home, and now an opportunity has come, where Russ was not happy, now we're back, it'll be a lot of fun this year, I guarantee it." . "
Westbrook and Harden, two former league MVP goalkeepers, have been Thunder teammates for three seasons, the last of which was the 2011-12 season in which this duo and Kevin Durant brought Oklahoma City to the gold medal final. the NBA. The Thunder lost in five games against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, and Harden left that summer for Houston, where he has since become a star player.
The Westbrook-Paul exchange has not been officially announced, but the Thunder has recognized Westbrook on their Twitter account.
?#Russ pic.twitter.com/OlVx1K48SJ
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 12, 2019
Thunder's general manager, Sam Presti, has worked with Westbrook and his agent, Thad Foucher, to help him honor his hopes of playing with the Rockets, league sources said.
"We are delighted to have Russell Westbrook," Rockman owner Tilman Fertitta, Fox 2012, told Houston Thursday. "I would watch him play for Oklahoma City, and he is so sporty.At the same time, this franchise has just had two years with the greatest number of consecutive wins, and we would not have done so without Chris Paul Chris Paul is amazing, and we will miss him a lot. "
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