Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook re-signed with the team on Thursday.
According to ESPN, the deal is for three years and is potentially worth $85.7 million. The deal includes a player option which allows Westbrook to become a free agent after the 2017-18 season. Westbrook’s salary will go from $17.8 million next season to the maximum of $26.5 million. If he exercises the player option then he would earn the max salary the next two seasons.
"I am grateful to extend my contract with the Thunder and continue to play with the only organization that I have played for and have loved being a part of since I was drafted into the NBA," the 27-year-old said in a statement. "I'm really excited about moving forward with this group of guys and continuing to play in front of the best fans in the world."
Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 10.4 assists last year. He also had 18 triple-doubles, which was a league-high and tied him with NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson for the most triple-doubles in the last 30 years. Westbrook is a five-time All-Star and a two-time All-Star Game MVP.
After he re-signed with the Thunder, his teammate Enes Kanter mocked Los Angeles Lakers fans on Twitter with a crying Michael Jordan meme, since the Lakers were going to pursue Westbrook had he become a free agent.
Westbrook then posted a pic of himself in a Thunder jersey at a game.
Kanter responded by photo-shopping Westbrook’s face onto the cover photo of Kevin Durant’s Players’ Tribune article where Durant announced that he’s signing with the Golden State Warriors.