RUSSELL WESTBROOK

 

In every league there are always certain players who stand out. Some stand out for being particularly great, others for being particularly bad, and most of the rest tend to get lost in the middle.

But some players stand out for simply being themselves.

When Russell Westbrook was drafted in 2008 by the newly formed Oklahoma City Thunder (replacing the Seattle Supersonics) he was drafted as the SG from UCLA number 4 overall. But the coaching staff had other plans for the young guard, as he was asked to switch to PG, as that was what the team needed.

With raw athletic ability and explosive speed Russ became an instant hit with the OKC fan base with just one exception…. he could not shoot.

Once teams began to realize this, Russell’s terror on the rim became limited to lobs and fast breaks. He did have the luxury of playing with budding superstar Kevin Durant, who drew more and more attention as his career progressed. But it soon became clear that he needed to develop a mid-range jumper to remain effective.

With a permanent scowl on his face, Russell developed that jumper, and in doing so, forced his opponents to respect it, so that he was free to attack the rim as he pleased. To this day, he owns some of the most spectacular posters the NBA has ever seen from a guard.

Naturally, his popularity drove me away from him. Combined with Deron William’s success in the west in Utah, and my all-time favorite player Joe Johnson being at the height of his powers, Russell was never one I followed. Combined with the isolation of Oklahoma City, and my disdain for Kevin Durant’s media antics, I only rooted for the team when they faced a team I disliked more.

This changed in OKC’s first finals appearance in 2012. Lebron and DWade’s Miami Heat were at the height of their powers and were the dominant favorites in the series. The first game in Miami Russell Westbrook went at the star studded Heat with a conviction I had never seen before. Kevin Durant could not say the same. That fearlessness made me a fan the moment I saw it.

From that moment on, I began to follow Russell’s career with great interest.

The friendship between Russ and KD was there until the pair began to be regarded as superstars. And while Russ was an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, KD was widely regarded to be the only real threat to Lebron’s residual best in the league status.

Russell Westbrook wanted to be the best too.

Before long the rumored in-fighting between the two stars was visible on the court. And since it was Russ’s job as the PG to distribute the ball, he was in control of the offense, even though KD was the better offensive player. By the summer of 2016 KD signed with the already OP Golden State Warriors. At the time ESPN’s First Take analyst Skip Bayless reported that, “Kevin Durant decided he could not win a championship with Russell Westbrook as his primary decision maker, as per a source close to him.” And with James Harden long since having gone to the Houston Rockets, that left Russ on OKC by himself.

I suspect most analysts and fans alike anticipated for it to be the end of Russell’s career, having lost his chance at a title without the league’s 2^nd best player. Instead, he began to go on the greatest personal tear that the NBA has ever seen. The ensuing season saw Russell Westbrook AVERAGE A TRIPLE DOUBLE and win the league’s MVP.

As someone who has played basketball all their lives, I can tell you that recording a triple double is nearly impossible for the average player in a competitive environment. So much so, that Oscar Robertson’s record of 181 triple doubles was thought to be unbreakable.

5 years later on May 10^th 2021, the Washington Wizards (Russ’s current team) will play the Atlanta Hawks, presenting Russell Westbrook with the chance of breaking that record with 182. As an all-time Hawks fan, I can say that it is extremely likely he will do that tonight.

But instead of celebrating Russell’s accomplishments, the media has been banging on him for “stat hunting,” and his “lack of a championship,” insinuating that he has nothing to be proud of.

When it comes to media responses, the first name that comes to mind (in my generation) is going to be Marshawn Lynch. In the NBA however, it is probably San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich. But I would argue that it should be Russell Westbrook.

We have all seen his scowl on the legendary meme where he was caught responding to a live professional interview with “man what….. y’all N***** trippin.” And while I have to say that was not an appropriate response, I can appreciate him for his honesty, as he would not be heckled by fans or the media.

When he and the new GSW member KD were selected to be all-star teammates for the first time that they were not on the same regular season team, reporters were intent on invoking an emotional response out of Russ.

Instead he responded with “You like fashion? What’s your favorite brand? What do you like?”

And media/Kevin Durant antics aside, there has not been any reports of any static with any of Russ’s other teammates, despite him now being on his 3^rd team in 3 years. KD on the other hand, cannot say the same.

So unlike the rest of the media, my goal here today is to simply appreciate Russell Westbrook and his accomplishments here and now, as is appropriate. It is clear that he cares about the game, his craft, and his teammates. He plays hard, and is still unpredictably explosive on the break. His name never comes up in scandals, and while his choice of fashion has always been on the unconventional side, he can hardly be criticized for much else.

And just to recap, here are the bullet points:

-        He developed a mid-range jumper

-        He began to average a triple double for an entire season

-        His first year without KD he won the MVP

-        He has had some of the most memorable media interactions the NBA has ever seen

-        He has no reports of off the court issues, marital or otherwise

-        He will be the NBA’s record holder for all time triple doubles

-        He still finds himself under constant criticism

I hope he does break that record tonight, and I hope he is recognized for that accomplishment. We here at ORR see you, Russell Westbrook, and we hope to be able to tell you how much you have meant to the game.

Maybe one day I even give the Jordan brand another shot at hoop shoes, and get the latest edition of the Why Nots.

5.10.21- The oracle

***** Quick update on 5.11.2021- Russell Westbrook has now made history as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple doubles at 182.

Congratulations Russ!

WHY NOT