Russell Westbrook does the unthinkable but nobody cares

Apr 7, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Russell Westbrook truly did the unthinkable last night. He became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple double.

Russell Westbrook really did it. Westbrook averaged a triple double and now the sports world rejoices…or so I thought.

As we have all heard all year, Russell Westbrook has been on a mission. With a total of 41 triple doubles so far, he has been tearing up the NBA. Last night he achieved something that had not been done in 55 years and that was average a triple double for an entire season. A great achievement, but crickets from the media.

Sure, we had all the major media outlets congratulate him on Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets, but it doesn’t really feel like he broke history.

I myself did not think he would achieve this great feat, but even I seem to downplay it and doubt the greatness because the media has downplayed it all year. There’s the contradicting “Stat Padding” arguments from Colin Cowherd and Nick Wright to the low-field goal percentage argument.

The Hate

I’m not really sure why Russell Westbrook gets so much hate. I think it is one of those things we will not understand for 10, 15 years after he retires. My only idea is because they have never seen anything like this in their lifetime. Most of us were not alive when Robertson averaged his triple double season 55 years ago, well unless you are in your 70s and 80s and can remember that.

It always happens like this in sports. When something happens that people are not used to it makes people feel insecure about their teams and the sport itself. We all read stories about African-Americans coming into the sports world. They were good, but a good we have not ever seen. It scared the predominantly white America sports.

Nowhere am I comparing Russell Westbrook’s hate to those during the Civil Rights Era. But the idea of something foreign causing panic in the sports world is the same. People assume Westbrook is only getting the triple-double average because he’s playing for stats, but that’s just not the case.

We must overcome those insecurities. Everyone has it happen in everyday walks of life. When we are comfortable with doing the same day everyday, we don’t want change at our jobs or in our families. But, sometimes change is for the better.

Down the road

As I mentioned before, I don’t think what Westbrook is doing this season will truly be appreciated for another decade after he retires. It happens with every athlete. When they retire we look back at their career and feel guilty how we took advantage of being in their greatness for 10+ years.

Personally, Westbrook is my MVP but to some he’s not because of wins. Others say it is the efficiency, which I totally understand. You always want your top guy to put your team in a winning position every night on the court. But, are we really going to rob history over eight wins? What James Harden is doing is also great too and I have absolutely nothing but respect for him, but we are seeing something not done in 55 YEARS.

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I understand how people can have such a tough decision to make over the two. What Harden is doing with that team is certainly amazing, but so is Westbrook. Harden has made his teammates better but he also has better shooters and teammates around him. No disrespect to the Thunder, but after Victor Oladipo and Alex Abrines, who can shoot 3’s?

The Game Changes

What people must understand is the game changes. When Robertson averaged his triple double, he was playing 10 more minutes a game than what Westbrook does. The game is also at a slower pace than it was 55 years ago.

You know, back to my point earlier that people don’t like change. It is true. It scares people when they see something that is not normal. People hate LeBron for the same thing. LeBron will go down as one of the best players ever, but also one of the most hated. Some due to his decisions, but some due to just his abnormal play and style. We have not seen a 6’8 SF who can play every position and be as efficient as LeBron while coming directly out of high school carrying a whole city on his back.

We have never seen a shooter with the handles like Kevin Durant has. Fans have never seen a shooter at the capacity of Stephen Curry. We have never seen a player with the athletic abilities of Westbrook. I don’t think we may ever see some of these guys in similarities to other players for another 30 or 40 years.

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We are in a great era of basketball with all the great players we have in the NBA. There are a lot of talents that we have not seen in forever and we may not see for ever again.

Embrace Change

I am certainly not telling you that you have to like Westbrook or have him as your MVP. I definitely do not want you thinking I am telling you that. If James Harden, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard or someone else is your MVP, I totally respect those players and your decision.

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Myself, I don’t think those other three players great years triumph a historic year. When people refer back to the 1962 MVP voting and say Robertson finished third it is not the same. The winner, Bill Russell averaged 19 points and 24 rebounds and the second place guy, Wilt Chamberlain, averaged 50 points and 26 rebounds. Sure, the other three players mentioned are having great and career years, but nobody is averaging 50 points and especially not anything near 20 rebounds.

What we as fans must do is embrace these changes. What Westbrook is doing is something we may never see for another 55 years for all we know, yet all I see is hate, hate and hate every night. Padding stats, not efficient, didn’t win, attitude problem, not a leader, ran Kevin Durant off.

Triple-doubles are here to stay I believe. Whether you like them or not is up to you, but this season the NBA shattered the triple-double mark with 111 triple-doubles. The previous record was 78 triple-doubles back in the late 1980s.

Players change, the game changes and it’s time to embrace Westbrook in all his glory. You’ll regret this when he is gone.

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Russell Westbrook does the unthinkable, but nobody cares

By Sean Reece | Apr 8, 2017