BY ELIJAH SMITH (‘18)
Jordan, Magic, Kobe and Lebron: all of these players are already etched into NBA history. Each of these players had remarkable seasons during their career, from Kobe’s 2002-03 season to Jordan’s 1990-91 season. One player has outshone them all with his performance, and he is done it in incredible fashion, literally.
Russell Westbrook has passed Oscar Robinson for most triple doubles in a single season with 42. He is averaging a triple double this season, 32 ppg, 10.4 apg, and 10.7 rpg. Those numbers have not been put up since The Big O in the 60’s. Russell is changing the way basketball is being played, and not to mention the show that he has put on this year. He has plenty of rim rattling dunks and flashy passes to show from this season, but his most impressive stat to me is that he has played in every single game this season. Most NBA superstars take games off to rest, but not Westbrook, he has put on a show in every game he has played this season. From making half court game winners, to posterizing some of the NBA’s biggest centers, Westbrook seems to be the clear shot to MVP.
The Thunder lost nearly 26% of their total scoring when Kevin Durant left, Westbrook has picked up the scoring slack while also lowering the team’s turnovers from a season ago. The Thunder are going to be a 6 seed in the playoffs, which is pretty remarkable considering they lost their franchise all star and only have one player who averages more than 20 ppg. Westbrook has put the team on his back this season and doesn’t seem to be stopping with the playoffs approaching. When a player can single handedly take a team to the playoffs while averaging a triple double during the regular season, that man should be the MVP.