Westbrook's jersey retirement reignites Kevin Durant's OKC legacy debate

The Oklahoma City Thunder are retiring Russell Westbrook's No. 0 jersey on February 7, 2027, against the defending champion New York Knicks.

That announcement, made by general manager Sam Presti at the franchise's Day One Luncheon earlier this November, was met with near-universal approval.

Westbrook helped build the Thunder into a perennial contender before the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander era.

Now the unavoidable follow-up question has already surfaced: will Kevin Durant's No. 35 hang in the same rafters?

Durant played seven seasons in Oklahoma City, from 2008 through 2016.

During that stretch, he won four scoring titles and the 2014 Most Valuable Player award.

He led the Thunder to four Western Conference Finals appearances and, in 2012, the franchise's first NBA Finals berth.

He was named an All-Star in every single one of his seven seasons in Bricktown.

Those accomplishments would normally make a jersey retirement a foregone conclusion.

But Durant's exit in 2016 created a wound that has not fully healed.

After building a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder collapsed against the Golden State Warriors.

Durant then made the stunning decision to leave Oklahoma City and join the very team that had just eliminated them.

The move was seen by many fans as a betrayal.

Sports columnist Berry Tramel addressed the situation on a recent episode of SiriusXM NBA Radio.

"I do think it is coming," Tramel said of a potential Durant jersey retirement.

"I think there'll have to be an ownership change. But I think it'll have to be after that."

"I think there's too much bitterness … from both sides. It's still not a great situation."

"The Thunder and Oklahoma City did not make Kevin Durant, he helped make the Thunder."

Tramel's comments suggest the organization may be waiting for a shift in leadership before making the call.

The bitterness he referenced is not one-sided.

Durant has rarely spoken warmly about his time in Oklahoma City since leaving.

And a segment of the fanbase has never forgiven the 2016 departure, viewing it as a gut punch that forced the franchise into a long-term rebuild.

But time has softened some of the edges.

Westbrook and Durant have publicly expressed mutual respect in recent years.

Both stars have acknowledged what they built together in Oklahoma City.

Those gestures have led some to believe reconciliation is possible.

The Thunder franchise now finds itself caught between two competing realities.

On one hand, Durant's on-court resume is undeniable.

Ignoring his contributions would require the organization to act purely out of emotion rather than logic.

On the other hand, retiring his jersey would anger fans who still remember the sting of his departure.

Some would argue that honoring Durant would dilute the integrity of the entire jersey retirement process.

The franchise has already set a precedent with Nick Collison's No. 4 hanging in the rafters.

Collison spent his entire career with the organization, first in Seattle and then in Oklahoma City.

Westbrook's retirement is scheduled for February 7, 2027.

The ceremony will take place when the Thunder host the New York Knicks, the defending NBA champions.

Westbrook shared what Oklahoma City means to him after Presti made the announcement.

"I came out (in Oklahoma City) by myself," Westbrook said.

"Trying to figure out life at 19 and trying to understand what's like to grow into a young man."

"Being able to come here…" he continued, trailing off before the full quote was captured.

His emotion reflected the deep bond he formed with the community.

That bond stands in contrast to the complicated relationship Durant has with the same city.

The question of Durant's jersey will not go away after Westbrook's ceremony.

It will likely grow louder.

Fans and media will ask Presti directly whether Durant is next.

The general manager has not yet steered the organization into making a public statement on the matter.

But the timeline Tramel suggested — waiting for an ownership change — indicates the decision may be years away.

Clay Bennett has owned the Thunder since the team relocated from Seattle in 2008.

If a new owner takes over, that person would not carry the same emotional baggage from 2016.

A fresh owner could approach the Durant question without the same scars.

That may be the only path forward that satisfies both sides.

Durant, now playing for the Phoenix Suns, continues to build his legacy elsewhere.

He won two NBA championships with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

He added a third title with the Suns in 2021.

But his time in Oklahoma City remains the foundation of his career.

The Thunder drafted him second overall in 2007, when the franchise was still in Seattle.

He moved with the team to Oklahoma City and became the face of the franchise.

He helped transform a expansion-era roster into a championship contender.

Those contributions cannot be erased by one controversial free agency decision.