Russell Westbrook is one of the most exciting players in NBA history. His tenacity on the court is unmatched and was on full display in 2016-17, where he was the best player and won the MVP award.
At the time, he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder, trying to pick up the team that Kevin Durant had left him. Before the season started, Durant left Westbrook and Oklahoma City to win the title with the Golden State Warriors. This sparked a rivalry between the two former teammates from the start.
Breaking: Kevin Durant to leave Thunder for Golden State Warriors https://t.co/X0YA9hpp5k
Durant’s decision to leave the Thunder and find another path inspired Westbrook’s ultimate version. In Game 1, he started the season with 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, hinting at what he can show. After that, the second game was even more exciting.
The nine-time All-Star kicked off his league dominance with 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. In the first month of the season, Westbrook is averaging 31.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 11.3 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three.
Overall, he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists to win the MVP and lead the Thunder to the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
Will there be another Russell Westbrook-like MVP season?
when Russell Westbrook Fans were amazed at how good he was when he was named MVP again in 2016-17. Before his rampage, the past MVP winner didn’t rely heavily on consistent attention to the three big statistical categories. Westbrook is built in a different way, which makes him a unique winner.
Almost every star in the league is capable of a triple-double every night these days. Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is a gifted big man who has the chance to easily post a triple-double. However, in the two seasons in which he won the MVP, he did not average a triple-double, but came close.
Thus, Westbrook’s MVP season separates him from past champions. He didn’t stop at just having an ordinary triple-double, he exceeded all expectations and exceeded the team’s requirements for him. That’s why he’s definitely a first-round Hall of Famer.
