After a much-anticipated wait through the particularly uneventful postseason, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder was announced the 2017 NBA MVP at the first inaugural NBA awards Monday night. The other finalists in the race included James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
While Harden and Kawhi had terrific seasons, leading their teams to the 3rd and 2nd seeds in the West, respectively, Westbrook had a historic one. He averaged 31.6 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds on his way to joining Oscar Robertson as only the second player to ever average a triple-double. Statistic geeks everywhere gushed over Westbrook’s insane output, but those who watched him closely noticed an unmatched competitive drive that many believe is absent in today’s game. More impressive than the numbers, Westbrook played every game with an intensity and purpose that miraculously brought his overwhelmingly untalented squad (the second best player was Victor Oladipo) to the sixth seed in the playoffs.
When contextualizing Westbrook’s season, the departure of Kevin Durant also plays into his winning the MVP. Westbrook did the best he could to fill the giant hole that Kevin Durant left, and he did so rather effectively. The Thunder went from 3rd in the conference with a record of 55-27 to 6th at 47-35.
While everyone in Westbrook’s camp will be celebrating, the Thunder ownership must be kicking themselves. Alongside Russell Westbrook in the MVP race was James Harden, who also nearly averaged a triple-double. Harden, before getting traded to the Rockets, played for the Thunder. Kevin Durant, whose leaving the Thunder is still a relatively fresh wound, ended up with Finals MVP. With all things considered, 3 of the top 6 players in the league were all on the same team together in OKC. If they could have figured out how to keep that team together after losing the 2012 Finals, the NBA’s super team would probably not be located in the Golden State.
“I remember growing up just being home, playing the video games and stuff with my pops, and my mom sitting there and my brother and just talking about maybe one day I could be the MVP. Obviously, I was joking at the time,” said a tearful Westbrook. “But now to be standing here with this trophy next to me is a true blessing, man, and it’s an unbelievable feeling, something that I can never imagine.”
Among those who congratulated Westbrook on his historic season was ex-teammate Kevin Durant, who, on his YouTube channel page, said, “Huge congrats to Russell Westbrook on MVP, that boy went out there and was a created player on 2k all year, F—in balled out.” Maybe now that after Durant achieved the team success he so longed for and Westbrook got the personal accolades he’s been vying for his entire career the two can bury the hatchet. Or maybe not.
Thunder player Enes Kanter continued the banter between the Thunder and Durant by mocking Durant’s old MVP speech about his mom.
No! No! No!
You Are The Real MVP…! pic.twitter.com/h8SE9XdgNT— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) June 27, 2017
Westbrook, through this season and others, has proved that he’s a superstar and franchise leader. Now that he’s got the personal acknowledgment, it seems like the time to either recruit another star or leave for a team that can compete. While watching Westbrook average a triple double every year would be a nice regular season story to track, it would be even better if he could demonstrate his incredible talent on the biggest stage against the NBA’s best.
Featured Image via Flickr/Keith Allison
