Day 103

Fresh Start_103: Russell, I’d like to apologize…
As a huge fan of Lebron James, I am conflicted to say that Russell Westbrook is the best player in the NBA right now. There is nobody even close to the level of play that Westbrook is playing at, and that goes for Lebron too. With the 27-point, 18-rebound, and 14-assist triple double in the Garden on Monday night, Westbrook becomes the second player in NBA history to average a triple double through 19 games. The only other player in NBA history to average a triple double through the same period is Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson (who did it multiple times).

Two or three years ago I remember saying after a terrible performance that Westbrook accumulated some game in the middle of I don’t know possibly February that Westbrook and Durant should go their separate ways. If you remember, a couple years ago Westbrook was a running joke and an example of what not to do at the point guard position. The shoots that he is making right now and the plays that he is making right now, the Russell Westbrook of 2014 was not doing that. The 2014 Westbrook would go 5-17 for 12-points 5-rebounds, and 4-assists. The evolution of Westbrook is almost improbable if you asked me just two years ago.

I never thought that Westbrook would be the last man standing in Oklahoma City after the talent that dawned that gym over the past five years. Westbrook is the face of the Thunder and I don’t think Mr. Westbrook would have it any other way. After blowing a 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals and the embarrassment that followed, the mindset of “us against the world” mentality is completely rational, while also adding the departure of Kevin Durant.

For years I thought that Westbrook would be better off as a shooting guard on a border line playoff team, he has transcended himself and proved everyone wrong. Westbrook is playing like there is a fire lit under his backside every single game, and no team can match the intensity at the moment. Westbrook so far through 19 games is averaging 30.8-points per, 12.5-rebounds per, and 11.4 per which is just absolutely incredible. Right now Westbrook is the MVP of the NBA and the best player in it, and the conversation is not even close. If you take Westbrook off the Thunder roster, the only other playmaker on the floor is Victor Oladipo, who is a border line All-Star but this team would not be a playoff team that’s for sure. Every season in the past couple of years has had a bandwagon that fans jump on, and 2016 is the Westbrook Bandwagon.
Sources:(theringer.com, espn.com)

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