No hard feelings?
Russell Westbrook is reportedly seeking to move on from Houston, but the Rockets don't appear to be taking it personally.
Westbrook turned 32 on Thursday, and the team saw fit to mark the occasion with a celebratory post and graphic on social media.
"Join us wishing [Russell Westbrook] a Happy Birthday!" the team said on Twitter.
The post featured a thoughtful, original graphic depicting Westbrook, in a Rockets uniform, dribbling through candles on a cake.
Join us in wishing @russwest44 a Happy Birthday! pic.twitter.com/dEpHhzDZNN
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 12, 2020
The tweet came just hours after a bombshell report painted an unflattering picture of the Rockets locker room and said Westbrook "wants out" of Houston, amid an offseason that has already seen the departures of head coach Mike D'Antonio and general manager Daryl Morey.
Rockets players Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker and Danuel House were also said to be unhappy with the team's style of play and ball distribution in recent years.
It was unclear where Westbrook could end up if a trade came to pass, but the Clippers, Suns and Knicks are among several teams who previous reports have said are interested in acquiring a veteran point guard.
Westbrook, a UCLA product, was an All-Star in his first season with the Rockets following 11 years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that drafted him in 2008. Houston acquired him in a July 2019 blockbuster that sent Chris Paul to OKC.
The nine-time All-Star was awarded the MVP in 2017, one of three seasons in which he averaged a triple-double.
