With a wide smile and a bounce in his step, Russell Westbrook skipped along the blue carpet, through the human tunnel of adoring fans, some of whom had stood for more than an hour Thursday on broiling Oklahoma concrete.
Westbrook hopped aboard a makeshift stage, grabbed a microphone and told the euphoric Thunder mob what it most wanted to hear.
“Love you guys.”
“Wanted to tell you first.”
“I love Oklahoma City.”
Westbrook was just a few feet away from the cool air of a Chesapeake Arena vestibule, where the Thunder staged a celebratory news conference announcing a contract extension for its one remaining superstar.