PHILADELPHIA – Two plump middle-fingers, belonging to a portly man in an Allen Iverson jersey, were flashed in his direction and Russell Westbrook was neither upset nor amused in the first quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season-opening win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Westbrook stopped, scrunched up his face, pointed two index fingers at the enraged, cursing fan and then silently scanned the crowd with a facial expression that basically screamed, “Does somebody want to come get this idiot?”

The chill reaction to a classic display of brotherly love quickly set social media ablaze, becoming the latest – and first of a post-Kevin Durant regular season being billed as “Russ’ Revenge” – moment in a burgeoning national love affair with the game’s most in-your-face individualist. Westbrook later explained that his response to the “crazy” situation was because he’s “turned a new leaf” and had no interest in giving the NBA $25,000 for crossing the line with a fan.

But anyone who has been closely monitoring Westbrook knows that the incident and the subsequent reaction were the encapsulation of his complex, professional career. Early on, Westbrook received considerable, often irrational hatred. But as his game continued to mature and the Thunder continued to win, Westbrook went from being viewed as erratic to hailed as passionate. And, finally, those who stood opposed – like the doctor/part-time comedian in Philadelphia – were escorted out of the arena, leaving everyone else to sit back and admire the show.

The changing tide from #BlameRuss to #TeamRuss over the past few years hasn’t gone unnoticed to Westbrook, who flashed that gap-toothed grin when asked if he’d noticed the difference in how he’s now perceived.

“A little bit,” Westbrook told The Vertical. “But at the same time, I’ve got to keep the same way, because I’ve been on the other side. I’m definitely appreciative of all the support and I’m definitely thankful for that, and every night I just go out and play the same way.”

Westbrook will undoubtedly make some adjustments to his game following a confluence of events last summer. Serge Ibaka sought a larger role and was dealt to Orlando, and Durant left for Golden State in free agency, leaving Westbrook all alone as a leader tasked with ensuring that defection doesn’t mean disaster for Oklahoma City.

A new sneaker commercial for Jordan Brand offered, in no uncertain terms, a look into to how Westbrook plans to accept the awaiting challenge. With a few animated dance moves, Westbrook gleefully recited the lyrics of Lil Uzi Vert’s song, “Do What I Want,” playing in the background.

“Now I do what I want!” Westbrook mouths. “Now I do what I want!”

Westbrook already spared the Thunder one potential headache when he chose to sign a three-year extension (with an opt-out after Year Two), rather than force the team to explore trade proposals and look to rebuild. The deal was signed one month to the day after Durant announced his departure and was greeted by a mini-championship parade outside Chesapeake Energy Arena, where thousands of fans showed up to cheer on his decision. By deciding to stay, Westbrook endeared himself not only to the people of Oklahoma City but also to fans around the country who now view the walking triple-double as the people’s champ.

Before his unique game-day attire made him an attention-grabbing, fashion trendsetter, and his Mountain Dew commercials and pregame dance routines with Cameron Payne revealed a goofy charm, Westbrook was a player trying to find his way while ducking from the vitriol tossed his direction. Westbrook was routinely blamed for the Thunder’s playoff failures, panned as being too wild and unreliable, blamed for trying to eclipse Durant in some crunch-time situations. The criticism could’ve broken Westbrook but instead made him more obstinate. Rather than push back at those deriding him, Westbrook played harder, better, even more relentless and earned more respect.

“The only time I felt like lashing out was with something that disrespected my family, or my mom, my dad. Anything of that nature. But for me, I can handle anything,” Westbrook told The Vertical. “Honestly, I stay even-keel throughout the good stuff, the bad stuff, because I always pay attention to my family and people that’s important to me. People I stand by. I like to have fun and enjoy the game and I just go out and play. Criticism for me goes in one ear and out the other.”

Nick Collison, the longest-tenured member of the organization, believes Westbrook’s backward path to fan adulation has given him a unique perspective on how to handle the new wave of admirers. “It was kind of a rude awakening for him to have to experience all that at a young age. A lot of it was probably unfair. The good part that he learned is, ‘I can’t control what people say about me. I’m going to do what I’m going to do,’ ” Collison told The Vertical. “He doesn’t get swayed too much or caught up too much in the outside world. He appreciates it, but it’s not going to make him think different, play different, or be a different guy.”

Westbrook’s assault on the stat sheet during Durant’s absence in the second half of 2014-15, and his MVP-caliber play alongside Durant last season, has elevated the expectation for what the five-time All-Star point guard will accomplish as a solo act. Those within the Thunder organization aren’t worried about the numbers Westbrook will produce. Monster performances will be a given and also a requirement for a team stocked with so much promising but unproven talent.

Steven Adams and Andre Roberson are the only other starters returning from last season’s conference finalist, with Victor Oladipo and rookie Domantas Sabonis replacing Durant and Ibaka. Westbrook’s rage wasn’t always reserved for innocent rims. He had a tendency to be demanding, curtly challenging teammates over mistakes. That style might not work with a Thunder team that had three players make their NBA debuts against the 76ers. Westbrook is learning to be patient and understanding, because he still remembers early in his career when he was “running all over the place, turning the ball all over the damn place.”

“He’s come such a long way in that part of the game. This year, he’s so vocal. He’s always trying to make sure everyone is doing the right thing. He’s shown growth, Kevin did, too, from being a young guy trying to prove himself in the league, concerned about what I’m doing, to now, ‘How is the team doing?’ ” Collison told The Vertical. “Russ is in a different place now, even than last year, where I think he understands that – I’m a veteran a guy, but I’m not going to play much – he’s going to be out there all the time. So he knows a lot is on his shoulders. He’s really trying to step up and help guys and set kind of a standard each day for, if we’re not playing well, he’s going to let everybody know about it, but does it in a way now where it’s helpful. It’s not just upset and barking, like he would as a younger player.”

With the enormous load he’ll carry this season, Westbrook has already shown that he won’t have a problem delegating. Late in the win against the 76ers, Enes Kanter fell to the floor after a collision under the basket, and Westbrook directed Roberson to help him back up, perhaps so Westbrook could save his strength to close out the game. Westbrook has focused on managing the game without being domineering and picking his spots to help his teammates learn as he once did.

“The most important part is always caring about how they’re feeling, how they’re doing, and how you can impact them and make them better,” Westbrook said. “I think a part of my job is being able to make my teammates better, but not just that, but make them feel confident in their game and how they’re doing.”

Westbrook is not interested in looking back or worrying about what went wrong. His once combative tone has been replaced by more engaging smiles and laughter. Though much of this season will be spent as an examination of his fractured professional relationship with Durant, Westbrook has tried to avoid feeding the discussion. On Thursday, Westbrook was asked if he saw that the Warriors had lost their first game and responded by asking, “Who?” He then spun his answer back into something involving the Thunder.

“What I’ve tried to express to him and talk to him about is, I want him to be who he is. I don’t want him to be anybody else,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan told The Vertical.

Based on an opening-night wardrobe that included a yellow hooded sweatshirt that read “Paranormal,” a denim jacket, black, ripped skinny jeans and a kilt – yes, a kilt – that shouldn’t be a problem for Westbrook. He has turned the perception of him on its head in a few short years. He’s even already received an apology from that bird-flipping fan. All that’s left is seeing what he plans to unleash on the rest of league.

“I approach it like I approach every season. Come out and be better than I was before,” Westbrook said.

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