OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Russell Westbrook is staying with the Thunder.
The superstar point guard and reigning NBA MVP has signed a contract extension to remain in Oklahoma City, a person with the knowledge of the agreement said Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed the deal. ESPN first reported the agreement and said it would be for five years and worth $205 million.
Westbrook made an Instagram post Friday afternoon, a photo of him yelling at Chesapeake Energy Arena with his arms are raised in the air. His words of choice to go with the photo are the words he lives by and the name of his charitable foundation: ”WHY NOT??”
Westbrook said this week that Oklahoma City is where he wanted to be. He said he was thrilled with the offseason additions of four-time All-Star Paul George and 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Both have player options on their deals after this season.
”I love being here,” he said. ”I’m excited about the season. Obviously, with a lot of new changes, and I’m excited. From that, I’m going to leave it there.”
Westbrook averaged a triple-double last season and was the league scoring champion. He averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists and broke Oscar Robertson’s single-season record for triple-doubles with 42.
His success increased anxiety for Thunder fans who feared he might leave, as Kevin Durant did during the summer of 2016 when he chose to join the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook signed the extension on Durant’s 29th birthday.
Westbrook said he hadn’t signed because of other obligations.
”I’ve been at home,” he said. ”I’ve been traveling. Just trying to get my family together, honestly. You know, having a new son can be a little difficult, you know what I mean? I’ve been trying to help my wife, help my family and enjoying and embracing that moment as much as I can because I know during the season, I’m going to be traveling and moving around.”
Center Enes Kanter, who Oklahoma City sent to New York in the deal that brought Anthony to the Thunder, said he thought Westbrook would agree to the extension.
”I mean, that’s his legacy,” Kanter said. ”That’s his team, and he’s not going to leave his legacy behind.”
Now, Westbrook can focus on making this season special.
”We’ve got to figure out the best way for everybody to play and for our team to play,” he said Monday. ”That part is easy in my opinion. Just being able to go out, and you have one goal, and that is win a championship. Guys will do what needs to be done to win a championship.”
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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball .
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