Russell Westbrook Retiring Made Thunder’s Sam Presti Emotional

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti admitted he became emotional after learning about franchise legend Russell Westbrook's retirement. Presti, who selected Westbrook with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, revealed during a preseason press conference that he was on a family vacation in Italy when he received the unexpected news, leading to a meaningful phone call between the two about an hour later.

Westbrook retired after an 18-season NBA career that included 11 seasons with the Thunder. Presti confirmed that Oklahoma City plans to honor Westbrook in the near future with great intention, expressing confidence that the future Hall of Famer will excel in his next endeavors.