Russell Westbrook cooked up more than just points on the court in early February 2016 — he and Oklahoma City teammate Enes Kanter shared a traditional Turkish meal before Westbrook dropped a triple-double.
What happened between Russell Westbrook and Enes Kanter?
On February 1, 2016, Kanter hosted Westbrook at his house for Maklube, a layered rice dish with chicken and eggplant. The meal came during a break in the Thunder’s season, and Kanter posted photos of the pair digging in. Westbrook tried the dish, then challenged Kanter to FIFA and NBA Live. Kanter admitted he got “beat pretty bad” in the video games.
The next night, Westbrook put up 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a triple-double against the Nuggets. Kanter joked the Turkish feast “should be credited” for Westbrook’s big game. Westbrook also lobbied publicly for Kanter to win Sixth Man of the Year, calling it “not even a question.”
Why did this moment stand out?
The dinner showed Westbrook’s comfort with teammates off the court. Kanter’s cooking show, “Kitchen 11,” already donated 5,000 meals per episode to food banks. Westbrook’s visit turned a casual hang into a viral moment, blending culture, gaming, and basketball.
Kanter’s tweets captured the scene: one image showed Westbrook eating Maklube, another showed them playing FIFA. The posts racked up thousands of likes and retweets, giving fans a glimpse of the Thunder’s locker-room chemistry.
What did Russell Westbrook say about the night?
Westbrook told NewsOK.com he was “pretty shocked” at the portion size of the Maklube. He called the meal “a pretty good time” and laughed off the FIFA loss. The next day, he backed up the fun with a triple-double, fueling Kanter’s joke about the meal’s magic.
Kanter also said Westbrook’s visit almost happened on the cooking show. Westbrook couldn’t make the taping, but he showed up for dinner instead. The swap kept the moment alive — and gave the internet a new Russell Westbrook highlight.
What’s the legacy of this 2016 moment?
The dinner became a snapshot of Thunder culture in the mid-2010s. Westbrook’s triple-double the next night added a stat line to the story, linking a cultural moment to on-court success. Kanter’s push for Sixth Man of the Year, backed by Westbrook, kept the moment relevant beyond the meal.
For fans, it’s a reminder of Westbrook’s ability to blend humor, competition, and camaraderie. The Maklube night proved even off-court bonding could fuel on-court fire — at least for one game.