Russell Westbrook is putting up historic numbers... and he's only getting started
Russel Westbrook going strong to the basket
The MVP candidate is fully unleashed since Kevin Durant has left the Thunder, and he is doing WORK
by Dominique Blonski (article) and Parasshuram Shalgar (video)
30 November 2016 at 18:12 30 November 2016 at 18:12
The word historic is sometimes used out of context, for situations that are not, and is often underestimated when used because of how common it has become for people to witness something "historic." But when spoken about Russell Westbrook, and more specifically about his performance so far in the 2016-2017 NBA season, this term is far from enough to describe what the Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard is doing on the court.
Averaging a triple double in the regular season? Not seen since 1962
After 19 games this season (the Thunder record is 11-8 so far), Russell Westbrook is averaging a triple double!
As insane as it sounds his actual stats as of November 30th are 30.9 points, 11.3 assists and 10.3 rebounds per game. If Westbrook keeps this up and finishes the season averaging a triple double it would be the first time since the 1961-1962 season, when Oscar Robertson averaged 30.8, 11.4 and 12.5 per game (very similar numbers to what Westbeast is doing this season). But to average this after 19 games is already a very rare feat and shows just how much talent and heart Westbrook has.
Kevin Durant leaving OKC might be a great thing for Westbrook
When KD announced that he is leaving the franchise that drafted him, the club that he played for his entire career, the whole basketball world was shook. Indeed, Durant is a top 5 player in the league and him joining the star-studded Warriors changed the face of the whole league.
But as Westbrook confirmed that he is staying in OKC and signed a contract extension worth 85 millions of dollars, all NBA aficionados also knew that this was the time for him to take control of the team and subsequently put up "video game numbers" that only he could.
We can say that so far this season, he has delivered. Westbrook is not only the absolute boss on the court and on the stats sheet, he also became the true leader of this Thunder squad, ready to act like a coach or captain when needed and leading his troops to victory.
And it is working as the Thunder is sitting at the sixth position of the Western Conference.
Westbrook is in his prime and is a top MVP candidate
With this kind of numbers and a winning team, Russell Westbrook's name definitely gets called upon more and more in the NBA Most Valuable Player conversation. For the last couple of years already, the point guard is considered more and more for MVP because of his versatility and his statistical domination.
But because of the fact that he was playing with Kevin Durant, he was always a bit overshadowed by the great player that is KD.
Now that his counterpart is gone, Westbrook has the opportunity to bring the Thunder to the Playoffs while being the uncontested leader of the team. That pretty much defines a great MVP candidacy. Add to that the inhuman stats he is averaging so far, as well as the heart and the will he shows on the court each and every night, and there is no reason why Westbrook should not be celebrated as the 2016-2017 NBA MVP.
Dominique Blonski
I am a huge sports fan and have been since I am a little boy. The NBA in particular fascinates me and I have a brain that is made for analyzing games and players in professional sports.
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Read more on the same topic from Dominique Blonski:
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