Russell Westbrook has had a rocky relationship with fans throughout his 17-year NBA career. Westbrook spent the first 11 years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder after being drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft. After spending time with four other teams, Westbrook finds himself with the Denver Nuggets this season. And despite missing seven games due to injury, his time with the Nuggets has primarily been a success.
In his younger years, Westbrook had multiple incidents with fans, most recently a heated exchange of words with a fan inside Crypo.com Arena in Nov. of 2023. Westbrook was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Ironically, they played the Denver Nuggets that night.
Fast forward to Wednesday night. Westbrook had a special, positive moment with a superfan immediately following the game.
Russ gave his jersey to a fan who traveled 6,000 miles from South Korea to see him 🙏
His reaction after 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/BYy6hoU2qK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 6, 2025
Taehyun Kim, Westbrook’s self-proclaimed No. 1 fan, traveled approximately 6,000 miles from South Korea to Denver to watch Westbrook play on Wednesday night. Kim was visibly overjoyed throughout the entire game, and his joy turned to pure elation when Westbrook approached Kim, gifted him his game-worn signed jersey, and embraced him with a hug after the game.
Kim was interviewed during the game by Nuggets color commentator, Scott Hastings, and Hastings asked Kim how he became a Westbrook fan.
“10 years ago I watched him as an OKC fan to see the triple-double. He always got a triple-double. He’s very unbelievable,” Kim said.
Kim picked a good game to come watch Westbrook and the Nuggets. With Jokic on the bench and the Nuggets trailing the Sacramento Kings by nine points, Westbrook scored the team’s first seven points of the fourth quarter. He would add a crucial, 3-pointer, putting the Nuggets up six with 1:28 to play.
Westbrook finished with 25 points on the night, and now sits second all-time in points scored by a point guard.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images