The Oklahoma City Thunder will retire Russell Westbrook's number 0 on 7 February 2027 against the New York Knicks at Paycom Center, the club announced on 2 November. The tribute follows Westbrook's retirement from basketball and will make his jersey the second number retired by Oklahoma City.
Thunder set the Knicks game for the tribute
The Thunder's announcement places the ceremony alongside a regular-season home game. It confirms the opponent and venue, giving supporters a fixture to follow, while leaving the programme for the evening open. The club says additional details about the number retirement will be released later.
Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said: “We are incredibly proud to retire Russell’s number.” Bennett also pointed to Westbrook's continuing connection with the Oklahoma City community. General manager Sam Presti described the guard's influence on the court and in the city, and said the number would be raised in Oklahoma City.
SportsRivo checked the club release against the NBA's game listing. The separate fixture page also places the Knicks at Paycom Center on the scheduled date. That check confirms the match setting independently of the announcement, while the ceremony's running order remains to be issued by the Thunder.
Westbrook's record in Oklahoma City
Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Thunder franchise, according to its 2 November release. The club lists him as its leader in games played, points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goals made and minutes. He was the central guard through a sustained run of postseason appearances, which gives the planned ceremony a direct link to the team's competitive history.
The Thunder's 2 November account says Westbrook helped the team reach the NBA Finals in 2012 and four Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City made the playoffs nine times during his tenure. The Thunder's 2 November release also recalls his league Most Valuable Player award for the 2016-17 season, when he averaged a triple-double. Those milestones sit alongside the franchise records cited by the club. Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA in August, the Thunder's release says. The jersey tribute therefore follows the close of his playing career and adds a permanent club honour to his individual awards and team achievements.
What the announcement changes
- Westbrook's jersey will become the Thunder's second retired number, according to the club's 2 November announcement.
- The tribute is tied to the Knicks' scheduled visit to Paycom Center, placing a franchise ceremony within a regular-season game night.
- The Thunder have fixed the date and opponent, but said they will release further retirement details later. Supporters still need the club's update for the ceremony programme.
Ceremony programme awaits a club update
The NBA fixture page lists New York's visit to Oklahoma City for 7 February 2027. The Thunder's next update will supply the remaining ceremony details, which the 2 November release does not specify.
Source: Oklahoma City Thunder