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Russell Westbrook – A review of the magical year of records, awards and achievements

By Tamberlyn Richardson

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 13: NBA player Russell Westbrook accepts the Clutch Player of the Year award onstage during Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards 2017 at Pauley Pavilion on July 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/KCASports2017/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 13: NBA player Russell Westbrook accepts the Clutch Player of the Year award onstage during Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards 2017 at Pauley Pavilion on July 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/KCASports2017/Getty Images for Nickelodeon) /
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Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
NEW YORK – JUNE 26: Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks after winning the Most Valuable Player of the Year award during the 2017 NBA Awards Show on June 26, 2017 at Basketball City in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

For Russell Westbrook a year after arguably the lowest point in his professional life, this year has been chock full of awards and successes.

Looking back to last July 1st, one could argue it represented the lowest point for Russell Westbrook professionally.  Certainly losing out to the Miami Heat in 2012 hurt. But, at the time it was thought this was the first of many trips Westbrook and his star teammates would make to the finals. Yet, just as quickly as the basketball gods give, they take away. As was the case the following season when Westbrook missed his first games to significant injury – going all the way back to his childhood. Still, when Kevin Durant left, many felt the Thunder were sunk. Some pundits said it would take a miracle for OKC to even make the post season.

In fairness, no one denies Russell Westbrook is a special talent. But, the prospect of what it would take for him to captain his young squad back to the playoffs was considered daunting. Then again, for some of us it wasn’t a stretch. In fact, I’m on record predicting the triple-double season and MVP for Westbrook. In hindsight, that was beyond a bold prediction and one predicated more on my abject fandom for Westbrook.

Flash forward a year and it’s possible Westbrook has experienced the greatest one year turn around ever experienced by an NBA player.

Let’s examine the multitude of achievements, awards and successes.

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