The Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook have every intention of fielding an NBA team for the 2016-17 season. There has been much debate about the Thunder's legitimacy after star forward Kevin Durant bolted as a free-agent to join Steph Curry and the Warriors.

Russell Westbrook, however, wants you to know he's still on board and the Thunder are here to stay when it comes to their inclusion in any discussion about the league's top flight squads.

Westbrook a Leader

"The first thing about Russell, being around him, is he wants to win at the highest level," coach Billy Donovan recently shared of his now lone superstar. "I think the second thing about him is amazing, being around him he's extremely bright and he's smart and he's got a great feel. And the third thing is he's very, very well prepared. I think a lot of times what people can look to or point to is when you have Serge [Ibaka] leaving and obviously Kevin leaving is this idea that maybe Russell now takes over more, and I think that he really understands that he's got to make everybody around him better."

All that is to say the Thunder are now unquestionably Russell Westbrook's team and they will only go as far as he takes them. The veteran guard recently expressed his commitment to the process by extending his deal with the Thunder for three more years, after everyone knew Durant was out the door.

"There's nowhere else I would rather be than Oklahoma City," he said. "You guys have basically raised me. I've been here since I was 18, 19 years old." He later added, "When I had the opportunity to be able to be loyal to you guys, that's the No. 1 option. Loyalty is something that I stand by."

And even without Durant, it's not as if the Thunder's talent tree is barren. Besides Westbrook, the starting five likely includes Victor Oladipo, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Andre Roberson.

Kobe a fan

But there's no accounting for the man Kobe Bryant compares most to himself in the entire league now having more of a chip on his shoulder.

"With Kevin going it opened up a few things for me," Westbrook said. "For me, just being able to see the team we have, the guys we have ... I felt like this is the best place for me and the best team. I love being here, and this is the place I wanted to be."

With Durant sidelined for much of the 2015-16, Westbrook excelled as never before, averaging a career-high 28 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds.

He finished fourth in MVP voting last season, averaging 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds while sharing the spotlight and the ball with Durant.

All that has seemingly served to emboldened the Thunder in general and Westbrook in particular as they embark upon the reality of life without Durant.

In his new Air Jordan brand, some are openly wondering if Westbrook takes a jab at Durant by taking flight in the advertisement amid a backdrop where the tagline reads, "Some run, some makes runways."