Dwight Howard urges Thunder to bring back retired Russell Westbrook

The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing early-season injury concerns, prompting Dwight Howard to publicly urge the franchise to bring back Russell Westbrook. The chatter intensified after ESPN insider Brian Windhorst hinted on The Hoop Collective podcast that the front office might target a familiar face if they decide to scour the market for roster reinforcements.

Westbrook officially announced his retirement on August 12, 2026, after an 18-season career that included his 2016–17 NBA Most Valuable Player award and 11 seasons in Oklahoma City. Now, with injuries testing the depth of the team, the conversation has turned toward whether the 37-year-old could step out of retirement to rejoin his original team.

The Injury Crisis Testing Oklahoma City’s Depth

The speculation stems from the training room. Oklahoma City is currently navigating extended absences from key rotation players Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, alongside various other health concerns that have strained the roster’s depth.

Brian Windhorst hints that the Oklahoma City Thunder could potentially bring back a former player 👀“And this is one thing I’ve talked to executives about, and I don’t mean to be cryptic, but I’m being cryptic… if they're going to acquire a player, would not be a surprise, if… pic.twitter.com/1IdSRbGzfO”

— https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/2115484865785209191

The mounting injuries have put stress on a squad trying to maintain its standing. While the Thunder entered the season boasting depth, losing multiple contributors for long stretches forces general manager Sam Presti to weigh his options.

During his last active season with the Sacramento Kings, Westbrook appeared in 64 games and averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Having also picked up Sixth Man of the Year votes in previous stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, the veteran guard has proven he can impact games off the bench.

Front Office Response and Cryptic Insider Hints

The organization’s leadership is keeping its cards close to the chest. When asked by reporters about the possibility of bringing Westbrook out of retirement, Thunder general manager Sam Presti offered a measured response focused entirely on the players currently in uniform.

Dwight Howard urges Thunder to bring back retired Russell Westbrook — Photo: heavy.com

“I haven’t thought about anything relative to the roster spot,” Presti said. “I understand the question, but all I’m really focused on right now is players, getting them the right support and then helping everybody with our group realize that we have a tremendous challenge in front of us.”

Presti’s remarks stopped short of ruling out a future roster move. That caution matches the cryptic clues dropped by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who told listeners that executives around the league believe Oklahoma City could look backward rather than forward if they make a signing.

“And this is one thing I’ve talked to executives about, and I don’t mean to be cryptic, but I’m being cryptic… if they’re going to acquire a player, would not be a surprise, if they acquire a player they’ve already had,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective, as shared by NBA Central on X.

Public Pressure from Former Peers

Windhorst did not name the player he was referring to, leaving the identity of any potential target unclear. However, Dwight Howard left no ambiguity about who he wants to see back in blue and orange. Taking to X, Howard made his stance unmistakable with a direct plea to the front office: “Okc do the right thing by Russ!”

Neither Howard’s public campaign nor Windhorst’s insider reporting confirms that Westbrook actually intends to return to the NBA, nor do they signal that Oklahoma City has made formal contact with a former player. Westbrook will turn 38 on November 12, 2026.

For now, the Thunder must face a schedule with the group they have, leaving fans to wonder if a reunion is genuinely on the horizon or merely wishful thinking.