Westbrook has consistently carried the Thunder to wins in the season after the franchise was rocked by Kevin Durant’s departure. Combine that with his historic production, a league-leading 31.9 points plus 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game
“Russell Westbrook to be the only player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double. No disrespect to their team, but I think James Harden has more help over there,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said before the game. “Earlier in the year, people said he can’t keep this up for 82 games, and he has. What he’s done is really something that you see once in a lifetime, so my vote would go to Russell Westbrook” .
No player in the league carries a bigger burden than Westbrook, who has to be historically productive to give the Thunder a decent chance to win.
Oklahoma City is an outstanding team when Westbrook gets a triple-double, going 33-9 in those games. The Thunder are 13-25 when he doesn’t.
Westbrook, who has three 50-plus-point triple-doubles this season, more than any other player in NBA history has in a career. “I don’t know any other way to play. When I get on the floor, I try to leave everything I have, regardless of seedings, records, the time of day, whatever. It doesn’t matter to me. Basketball is basketball, and I try to go out there and leave it all on the floor” said Westbrook.
