Although many pundits dislike his style of play and argue that his success is greatly aided by superstar teammate Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook is a legitimate contender for the NBA MVP Award this season.
Early in the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder struggled after Durant sustained a right-foot fracture and Westbrook suffered a fracture in his right hand. When Westbrook returned on Dec. 28, the team had a dismal record of 4-12.
Comparatively, the Thunder have a 28-15 record when Westbrook is on the court and a 10-7 record when Westbrook is forced to carry the team without Durant. As a result, although the Thunder are currently the eighth seed in the West at 31-25, the team is surging toward the playoffs, and Westbrook’s role in the team’s rise is undeniable. If they make the playoffs as sixth seed or higher, Russell Westbrook deserves the MVP trophy.
This season, the superstar point guard is averaging 26 points, eight assists and sists and six rebounds per game. Since the All-Star break, Westbrook is averaging an absurd 29 points, 12 assists and six rebounds per game, all during games in which he played 36 minutes or fewer, out of a possible 48.
Pundits have often critiqued Westbrook’s game, arguing that he shoots too much — and they’re right, to an extent. But Westbrook’s style of play dictates that he needs to shoot; he is a scoring point guard, and on nights when he doesn’t shoot well, Oklahoma City loses its edge over every other team in the NBA.
In Thunder wins, Westbrook has converted 48 percent of his field-goal attempts, compared with his 37 percent accuracy in the team’s losses.
When Westbrook’s shots are falling, everything goes right for the Thunder. When he shoots the ball well, defenses have no choice but to respect every facet of his offensive game by double-teaming or pressuring him. When his opponents attempt to trap him, Westbrook’s point guard skills emerge and he regularly tallies 10 or more assists in a game.
Perhaps Westbrook is unconventional. But the NBA is no longer a conventional league, and a point guard who uses scoring as a means to make himself a better distributor is brilliant.
While Westbrook does not have the crafty, flashing passing skills of Stephen Curry, or the ability to make seemingly impossible dishes like John Wall, he is still a top point guard in terms of assist numbers, ranking fifth in the NBA with 8.0 assists per game.
Moreover, Westbrook has no need for flashy passes; with a player like Kevin Durant on the court, just getting him the ball in his favorite spots is more than enough to help his team.
Many fans will still argue that Westbrook is hot-tempered, reckless and selfish. These words are often used to either minimize Westbrook’s value to OKC or suggest that he belongs on another team.
All of those adjectives are misleading. Yes, Westbrook does try to take on the entire opposing team by himself at times, but with his strength, speed and athleticism, who wouldn’t?
Since his college basketball days at UCLA, Westbrook developed an offensive game built around his athleticism and speed. There are very few, if any, players who can sprint up the court and stop mid-stride to pull up for a jump shot — Westbrook’s signature move.
His supposed selfishness with the ball is largely exaggerated, because, more than anything, Westbrook wants to win. In a recent interview with Dan Patrick, Westbrook said that he didn’t mind sharing the spotlight with Durant and that he would rather be part of a star duo than lead a team on his own.
Durant does not resent the Thunder’s formula either. He and Westbrook treat each other like brothers; they win together and they lose together. Durant directed some of his most heartfelt words to his star running mate during his MVP acceptance speech last year. Westbrook deserved every word.
There will only be one Kevin Durant in league history. He is efficient, skilled and versatile in a way that the average NBA player is not. Nevertheless, despite his flaws, of which there are many, Westbrook deserves some credit for helping Durant become the player he has become, and, most importantly, for leading OKC when Durant cannot. He deserves more credit than many people will ever be willing to admit. Even with his rushed jumpers, his high total of shot attempts and his occasionally erratic on-court decision making, Westbrook is an indispensable asset to the Thunder and their playoff hopes, and is a source of inspiration to all those striving to prove the pundits wrong.
Keep executing, Russell.
Paolo Santamaria is a freshman in the College. SAXA SYNERGY appears every Friday.
