We asked readers to share their thoughts and memories about Russell Westbrook, who spent 18 seasons in the NBA and the first 11 of those with the OKC Thunder (2008-19). Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Aug. 12. Here are some of their responses:
- The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan’s No. 23 even though he never played a single game for them. They did it out of pure respect for what he meant to the game and to the league. Russell Westbrook is the opposite case. He did play for us — and he played with a fire that defined the early years of this franchise. He was the engine of those teams. The triple-double seasons. The nightly intensity. The way he carried the city on his back night after night. So here’s the question for Oklahoma: If Miami can hang a jersey for a guy who never even wore their uniform, why shouldn’t OKC hang one for a player who bled for this city and this team? Should Russell Westbrook’s number go up in the rafters at Paycom Center? ... I believe it should go up in the rafters. — Leo Kingston, Oklahoma City
- Russ is my favorite Thunder player ever. He set the tone for how our players should be on and off the court. ― Kendra Greenfield, Oklahoma City
- My husband and I lived in Oklahoma for 50 years, and were lucky to be there when the Thunder arrived and Russell Westbrook joined them. Russell was approachable to the people and untouchable on the court! Thanks, Russ! ― Elizabeth Abowitz, Oklahoma City
I read your article about the inefficiencies of the SNAP benefits.
Another department to look into is the state treasurer. Did you know once a person files for unclaimed property, it takes 8-12 months for this claim to get to the auditors?
I filed a claim back in March for over $1,600, which as a senior on Social Security, I could use to pay my electric. Why? I filed a claim through Kansas, and it took 12 days to receive my money.
― Bobbi Huckaby, Oklahoma
Candidates should stop demonizing people they are trying to governI’m tired of watching Oklahoma politicians campaign on “Christian values” and the “Oklahoma standard” while spinning the airtime and millions of dollars demonizing their neighbors. Republicans have had total and complete control of this state for 16 years at every level of government and yet somehow every failure schools health outcomes infrastructure still get blamed on Democrats, who haven’t held real power here in a generation. ...
There is no way to unify the country unless we can start by acknowledging that we’re all humans. We all want the best for our families. We just have different ideas of how to get there. It’s demoralizing to see gubernatorial candidates spend millions of their own money to demonize the population they are trying to govern.
We will never be as great as we can be if we don’t have some differences. So surely the goal can’t be that everyone is the exact same and has the exact same opinion and there’s no friction; that’s not good for anyone.
And it has to start at the top. Leaders need to do better at being a better example. We’re all Oklahomans, and we should act like the good people we say we are and stop this nonsensical name calling. We should all strive to have some decency when it comes to how we treat our neighbors.
― Andria Campbell-Bredemeyer, Harrah
Rural hospitals are struggling. Do our leaders even care?The sad state of funding for rural Oklahoma hospitals that have put 18 at immediate risk of closing, 45 at risk of closing and 95 of them struggling with negative operating margins are the direct consequence of the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" act. In the article it was noted that since 2015, seven rural Oklahoma hospitals have closed.
In all, the entire Oklahoma House and Senate delegation voted to cut $6.7 billion in state hospital funding and a $1 billion cut to doctors.
Aside from our two U.S. senators, five House members, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who else thinks this was a good idea? Certainly not the millions of rural Oklahomans on Medicaid and Medicare who depend on accessible, reliable health care and urgent care options; certainly not expectant mothers who will have to travel great distances for prenatal and delivery care, certainly not large city hospitals where the effects of this vote will be compounded daily at the expense of everyone who shows up for treatment; and certainly not their family members who will also be burdened by the results of this epic failure.
Rather than wait for the slow burn of these cuts to kick in and experience their devastating effects, it's time to vote these elected officials out of office and put in their place advocates who care about the people they represent, whether in rural areas or metro areas.
It shouldn't matter what political party anyone belongs to; the litmus test should be will they follow their obligations to serve the people and uphold the Constitution regardless of party affiliation. Is that too much to ask?
― Mitch O'Farrell, Tulsa
Stitt, how about governing in positive way instead of stoking division?Regarding The Oklahomanarticle of Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, Stitt orders state probe for possible Muslim org ties to terror. Alex Gladden, the article’s writer, indicates "Stitt issued an executive order Wednesday, August 12, instructing the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security to determine whether the Muslim Brotherhood, the Council on American-Islamic Relations or any of their members are connected to terrorist efforts." While that may placate some who see only animus in every face, I can only hope the same executive sentiment against terrorism is being equally applied to those espousing Christian nationalism, White supremacy, neo-Nazism, ICE policies and methods, fill-in-the-blank, ad nauseum. Take your pick. There are many headline hot buttons to push, governor. How about spreading the wealth? Or better yet, how about addressing actual problems like our woeful education system in a positive, encouraging way and leading the state forward rather than continuing to look for the sinister trope that keeps us bound to blame and hate and division?
― Jim Moses, Oklahoma City
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC fans share thoughts on Russell Westbrook's legacy | Letters
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