Lakers' Russell Westbrook Given Key to Oklahoma City; Played 11 Seasons with Thunder

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJune 14, 2022

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 8: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers cheers during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8, 2022 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Former Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook was given a key to OKC on Monday.

Mayor David Holt @davidfholt
We are so grateful for all <a href="https://twitter.com/russwest44?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@russwest44</a> has done for our city through the years, and we want him to know he’s welcome here anytime. To make sure Russ can always come back home to OKC, I gave him the Key to the City. <a href="https://t.co/zrQK5yxRRf">pic.twitter.com/zrQK5yxRRf</a>

Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Russell Westbrook was given a key to the city. <a href="https://t.co/HdjnJtJrvD">pic.twitter.com/HdjnJtJrvD</a>

"My foundation, we want to continue to support things in Oklahoma City as much as we can," Westbrook, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, said during the ceremony. "This place for me was home, and it still is home for me."

His Why Not? Foundation had recently donated an outdoor futsal and basketball court to the city.

Westbrook, 33, spent 11 seasons with the Thunder, eight of them as an All-Star. He helped lead the team to nine playoff berths and one trip to the NBA Finals.