Westbrook: "Blessed to be back."

Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook is back in the Thunder starting lineup tonight for the first time since Christmas Day.

Westbrook was cleared medically this afternoon following a full practice yesterday and this morning's shootaround.

"I'm happy and blessed to be back on the floor with my teammates," Westbrook told a packed news conference full of local and national media.

"I didn't know when I would play, just whenever I felt I was 100 percent."

Head coach Scott Brooks said there was never any specific date circled on the calendar for Westbrook's return.

"The perfect time was whenever he was ready. He felt good after practice yesterday and he felt good today and so we felt this was the right time."

It also works well with the schedule because the Thunder are beginning a six game homestand, so there will be lots of practice time and the entire medical and training staff on hand to watch over Westbrook.

Both he and his All-Star teammate Kevin Durant say they won't have any trouble at all getting acquainted again on the court.

That process beings tonight against the 2-time defending NBA Champion Miami Heat. A team the Thunder blewout in Miami a few weeks ago.

Our cameras will be in the Thunder lockerroom for post game reaction so click back after the game.