Russell Westbrook is force. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is finesse. Westbrook is chaos. Gilgeous-Alexander is craft. Westbrook is prickly. Gilgeous-Alexander is pleasant. Westbrook is daring. Gilgeous-Alexander is diligent. Westbrook flies. Gilgeous-Alexander flutters.
Westbrook is fire. Gilgeous-Alexander is water.
The two players and two personalities couldn’t be in more contrast. What they share in common, though, is the love of a city: Westbrook as the Thunder’s past, Gilgeous-Alexander as its present.
The two icons of different eras will collide starting at 8:30 p.m. Monday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals: Thunder vs. Nuggets.
Of course the series won’t be about SGA, the presumptive MVP, against a reserve in Westbrook, but every time Westbrook returns to Oklahoma City as an opponent — he’s done it eight times now — Paycom Center melts into an emotional mess.
“We understand the relationship he has to the organization, the fan base, everybody here, and the relationship that they have with him,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Sunday. “He’s an unbelievable philanthropist in the community. This is a place that I think he really resonates with and a place that resonates with him.”
Westbrook, the star who stayed, is the most beloved Thunder player ever. Six years removed from playing here, Westbrook continues to invest in the city. But this is SGA’s town now. And while Westbrook spent most of his time in Oklahoma City as Robin to Kevin Durant, Gilgeous-Alexander has been Batman since the turn of the decade.
Westbrook and Gilgeous-Alexander became inextricably linked on July 11, 2019.
That night, in the Thunder’s practice facility off Britton Road, general manager Sam Presti finalized the trade that made Westbrook a Rocket. Also in the Thunder’s gym that night was Gilgeous-Alexander, who the Thunder had just acquired from the Clippers in the blockbuster Paul George trade.
Little did Presti or anyone else know that another Thunder MVP had walked into the building just as Westbrook left it.
Thirteen months later, in the bubble playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder faced Westbrook’s Rockets.
It’ll be a little different this time around.
SGA was still under the tutelage of Chris Paul back in the 2020 playoffs. The games were played in Orlando in front of no fans.
A Westbrook return game in the postseason? This will be a first.
Westbrook’s play ebbs and flows, but prepare for a tidal wave of something whenever he checks in for the first time. No. 0 doesn’t do subtle.
“He always brings great energy and competitiveness to the game, especially when he’s off the bench,” Daigneault said. “You have to account for the fact that he’s gonna come in the game ready to rock and the pace of the game is gonna go up. He’s gonna be trying to make something happen right off the bat and you can’t be flat-footed.”
This is the 17th season of the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook was here for the first 11 years. He holds just about every Thunder record. Gilgeous-Alexander has been here for the last six years. If he stays, Westbrook’s records will one day be SGA’s.
Westbrook, whose rookie season coincided with the inaugural year in OKC, ushered in the first era of OKC basketball alongside Durant. SGA has captained Thunder U 2.0 back into title contention.
Westbrook did it his way. Same goes for Gilgeous-Alexander.
They’re the same in that sense. And different in every other.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
TIPOFF: 8:30 p.m. Monday at Paycom Center (TNT)
