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Russell Westbrook – Epic season in review

By Rich Condon

Feb 19, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during halftime of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during halftime of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook
Feb 26, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) on a dunk during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

No matter what side of the coin you’re on, the end result of Russell Westbrook’s 2016-17 season is irrefutable. By sheer will, Russell Westbrook carved his place into the history books.

Westbrook has done something no player has done in the last fifty years. Not Michael Jordan, not Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, nor LeBron James. None of these titans of the game have ever averaged a triple-double in a season, and no player has more triple doubles in a season than Russell Westbrook.

Regardless of whether the triple-double metric is arbitrary, this was a record that wasn’t supposed to be broken. This was the NBA version of Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak. There’s something to be said for that.

Here’s five highlights of Russell Westbrook’s historic season, cultivated by the guy who brought you the Rich List, aka Russ Plus Four:

That Time Russ Ended Clint Capela

This one came early in the season, and prompted Jeremy Lambert to write a touching piece about Clint Capela the next day.

The Nutmeg

I’m not quite sure how a player can even fathom pulling something like this off.

The Shamgod

This one left the announcers speechless. #Shamgod.

The Block on KD

For starters, just look how long Russ is hanging in the air here. Also, doesn’t it feel that much better because it was KD he blocked?

That Time Russ Destroyed Houston, on Both Ends

Let’s review: Russ starts this play by blocking Clint Capela’s alley-oop attempt. As if that wasn’t enough, Russ destroys Lou Williams and Clint Capela en route to a lay-up on the other end. Just ridiculous.

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