Russell Westbrook is always in Russ Mode

Last week Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks called Russell Westbrook, “the best point guard in basketball.” Russell Westbrook agreed with this sentiment.

I call this Russ Mode.

Russ Mode, as defined by me, is “having irrational confidence in everything you do but backing it up”

Thunder fans know exactly what this means. We’ve come to love Westbrook while many experts continue to discredit him for being too selfish. We’ve come to accept it when he jacks up an ill-advised three pointer or when he holds onto the ball for the entire shot clock before finally deciding what to do. We accept this because for every ill-advised three or terrible decision, Russell amazes us with his ability to blow by his defender or rebound and immediately lead a one-man fast break.

So when Russell Westbrook agrees with his coach that he’s the best player in the league, we accept it. We also have a tough time arguing with it.

Russell isn’t the playmaker that Chris Paul is and he can’t shoot the lights out like Steph Curry, but on any given night he can be the best player on the court, and that includes his MVP teammate Kevin Durant. When he’s in Russ Mode, which is always, no one can impact the game like him. He can bully smaller defenders, blow by bigger defenders, take contact and still finish, make shots, out-rebound forwards, get in passing lanes, get his teammates involved, and do everything else that makes a great basketball player.

Unfortunately, because we know how great he can be, we get frustrated with Russ. We can’t stand it when he takes a bad shot, over dribbles, doesn’t get the ball to Durant or Serge Ibaka, plays lazy defense, and ends up hurting the team more than helping them. “Experts” can’t accept this because when it happens, they immediately wonder why Russell is still in game or why Durant isn’t running the show.

Shaquille O’Neal is the latest expert to criticize Russell for not taking a step back. He won’t be the last.

They can’t take the good with the bad because they love Durant so much. It’s tough to blame them, KD is a very lovable player, but so is Russ once you accept him. Accept that Russ is still in the game and running the show because even though the last three possessions ended up with a turnover and two missed jumpers, the next four possessions will be a fast break dunk thanks to a steal, two assists, and a bad looking three that just happens to go in.

Could Russell dial it back and become more consistent? Probably, but where is the fun in that? A dialed back Russell Westbrook might look a little bit like Kyrie Irving. As good as Kyrie is, would you trade him for Westbrook? You’d be pretty silly if you did.

Oklahoma City wouldn’t be as good as they are now if Westbrook isn’t always in Russ Mode. They’d still be very good, but Westbrook takes them to another level that only the San Antonio Spurs can match. And they’ve been doing this for as long as Russell has been in the league.

Russell isn’t just in Russ Mode on the court though. He’s always in Russ Mode, as evident by his agreement that he’s the best point guard in basketball.

Kevin Durant is the humble one of the duo. He plays as LeBron James on NBA 2K because he thinks it’s arrogant to play as himself. Russell Westbrook probably plays as four Russell Westbrook’s (and a Kevin Durant). Russell starts his own clothing line. Russell immediately shuts down any talk of a rift between him and his teammates or coaches. Russell stays with his college sweetheart and proposes to her with a custom ring. Russell stays in Russ Mode.

We should all live our life in Russ Mode. We should all have the irrational confidence to do things that others perceive as dumb but we feel helps us and others. We shouldn’t worry about what others say because they think we should be more passive and let others handle the tough situations. Don’t worry if you fail, just forget about it and try again. And at the end of the day, put on a polo shirt with gummie bears, a bow-tie, and no lens glasses and just smile.