National Basketball Association

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook Can't Win

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Despite his statistical brilliance, many NBA fans are overly critical of Russell Westbrook. Appreciate him before you miss out on a generational talent.

Russell Westbrook ranks amongst the most polarizing athletes in the world of professional sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar is one of the most statistically prolific players to ever grace the NBA.

Though it may be easier to hate than applaud—and wow, we live in a strange society—it’s important to know that we as basketball fans are witnessing history.

Westbrook has earned a reputation as one of the most explosive players in NBA history. He’s also earned the reputation of a player who can’t be trusted to take care of the ball or knock down an important jump shot.

The negative most certainly needs to be discussed, but the positive is far more significant and worthy of discussion.

Westbrook began the 2016-17 NBA regular season with marks of 32 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. That seemed impossible to top, but he followed with 51 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals.

It was one of the greatest displays of pure production in NBA history.

Have a night, Russell Westbrook.

The last player to get a triple-double with 50-plus points? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. pic.twitter.com/KiYBWR2kuz

— ESPN (@espn) October 29, 2016

Yet, the critics are more concerned with the number of shot attempts than the fact that he recorded a triple-double with 51 points.

More importantly, the critics are more concerned with the number of shot attempts than the fact that Westbrook led his team to a 113-110 overtime victory.

Just two days later, Westbrook stepped up with another explosive performance. Matched up against the Los Angeles Lakers, the 27-year-old tallied 33 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds, one block, and a steal.

Westbrook was truly everywhere for the Thunder.

Westbrook shot 11-of-21 from the field, 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, yet all his critics seemed to discuss were his seven turnovers.

Mind you, Westbrook’s assist-to-turnover ratio against the Lakers was 2.29—a mark that would’ve ranked higher than those posted by Damian Lillard and Kyle Lowry in 2015-16.

Yet, Westbrook’s success only seems to breed more criticism.

The criticism of Westbrook used to be in response to his taking touches and shot attempts away from Kevin Durant. Durant has since departed, which should enable the NBA community to evaluate Westbrook as the future Hall of Famer that he is.

So when will we start appreciating his impact on the game?

Westbrook has 29 triple-doubles over the past two seasons, which is the most a player has recorded during a two-year span over the past 25 years. That alone offers reason to believe Westbrook deserves our praise.

Here’s the more riveting reality: Oklahoma City has won 20 consecutive games when Westbrook has a triple-double.

That doesn’t include Game 4 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, when Westbrook led OKC to its final win of the KD era.

Thus, while it may be fun to suggest that Westbrook is hurting the Thunder, that’s far from the truth. Going 20-0—or 21-0, if you include the playoffs—is all the proof necessary that Westbrook isn’t harming his team’s chances at victory when the success rate is as high as it is.

Westbrook needs to improve his shot selection and limit his turnovers, but the good far outweighs the bad.

You’re free to do as you please as a basketball fan, but I encourage you to enjoy the real life video game that is Russell Westbrook.

Great players may seem invincible and eternal, but their prime only lasts so long.