Hooper Stover, 11, sent Thunder general manager Sam Presti some of his allowance money to "help keep Russ." After Russell Westbrook signed his contract extension, Presti invited Hooper to the Thunder season opener. Hooper and his brother, Boston, 8, met Presti before the game. [PHOTO PROVIDED]

Hooper Stover wasn't sure he should write the letter much less send it.

He desperately wanted the Thunder to sign Russell Westbrook to a contract extension — the 11-year-old couldn't stand to see his favorite team lose another superstar — and as the summer rolled on with no deal done, he fretted. He worried. He felt like he had to do something. What if he wrote a letter to Sam Presti telling the Thunder general manager that he loved the team and wanted to help? What if he sent some of his allowance money, too?

"I didn't know what they'd think of it," he said.

He thought about it for a couple weeks, telling no one before finally sitting down and typing a letter on the computer.