The upcoming season will define Russell Westbrook’s legacy
By Tony Heim
Last season was built for Russell Westbrook to show basketball fans his individual powers on the court. This upcoming one is his opportunity to prove he isn’t just a solo act.
We may never see a player quite like Russell Westbrook again. Westbrook is the rare 6’3 point guard who can take over every aspect of the game – he’s Jason Kidd with generational athleticism and a heavy scorer’s mindset.
Westbrook’s ability to do everything on a basketball court, however, became his Achilles heel. Because he can do everything Russ acquired a mild superiority complex. He’s better than nearly everybody in the league – let alone his own teammates – so why not use as many possessions as possible?
That irked Kevin Durant. Durant wanted fluidity in his team’s offense. He didn’t want to be a part of an offense where isolation ball reigned supreme. KD didn’t leave because he wanted clear control of the Thunder offense; he left because he was tired of being one of the two offensive options on a team with other talented scorers.
The national media took this and ran with the narrative that it was Westbrook’s fault Durant left. They forgot Oklahoma City was one win away from the NBA Finals. That they went to the Finals in 2012. That the Thunder had consistently been one of the best teams in the league while the duo played together. They forgot how Westbrook asked KD what he could do to change right before he moved on to his next chapter. The two had there problems, but KD’s decision to leave ultimately had little to do with Russell Westbrook.
Sadly that’s not how the general public has decided to see it.
The enigma that is Westbrook has only grown since Kevin Durant’s departure. Russ’ first season playing without KD only perpetuated the idea that he is a ball-stopping wannabe solo superstar. He shattered the record for usage rating in a season, of course this guy doesn’t want to play team basketball.
What people forget is the Thunder weren’t actively competing for a championship; their goal going into the season was to bring Russell Westbrook the MVP. Everybody in the organization centered their campaign around Russ. Magazine feature stories, billboards, an increase in national commercials, even the rare social media post..both the organization and Oklahoma City fans alike wanted nothing more than for Westbrook to win MVP.
Now Russ has all the individual accolades imaginable: one League MVP, two All-Star Game MVP’s, the ESPY for Best Athlete, SI’s Most Fashionable Athlete and the ever important Kid’s Choice Awards Clutch Player of the Year. He has nothing left to prove to himself or those who have doubted him. The only box left unchecked for a near-perfect career is a ring.
Unlike last year he’s (almost) got the roster to do it.
Oklahoma City isn’t a title contender yet. They are still one All Star away from competing with the Warriors, and even then they’ll likely be underdogs. What’s important is that there’s a concrete vision to contending unlike last year.
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Russell Westbrook has a new partner in Paul George. George is a lite version of Kevin Durant; an elite two-way small forward with the length, athleticism and skill to space the floor and play multiple positions. PG isn’t KD, but he’s the next best thing. With Steven Adams and Andre Roberson two years older plus the free agent additions of Raymond Felton and Patrick Patterson, the Thunder are arguably just as deep as their Conference Finals team two years ago.
If Russ is the transcendent player he believes (and Michael Jordan believes) than he could potentially push OKC over the edge. To do that, however, Russ will have to remember that conversation he had with Durant just last summer.
Westbrook can do everything on the court. That doesn’t mean he absolutely has to.
The heavy isolation model that worked in the past simply won’t work with this team. Paul George isn’t the natural scorer that KD is; he’s significantly better in catch-and-shoot situations than when looking to create for himself. If the focus is on winning this season, Russ needs to transform his game to fit his new partner-in-crime.
Do that and the way people look at Westbrook changes.
We forget how far Russell Westbrook has come. He got a last-second offer to UCLA as a three star recruit. He didn’t crack the starting lineup until his sophomore season. He was seen as a reach with the fourth pick for a defensive specialist. Russ hasn’t always been one of the best – he’s worked for everything he’s got.
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At 28 Westbrook is still learning his powers on the court. Whether it’s an improved jump shot, tighter handles or a better eye for passing angles, Russ comes back with something new to his game every year. This season will be no different.
Russell Westbrook isn’t Russell Westbrook without the irrational confidence. Hopefully that never changes. But irrational confidence can be reigned in, especially after experiencing the effects of losing a generational talent as a teammate. Russ wants to win a title now more than anything else – he’s not content with flaming out of the first round every year.
The good thing is Westbrook seems to understand he can’t do it alone. It’s why he asked Sam Presti for help at the start of the offseason. This could be the first sign of a new Russ; it appears he realized he’ll never win as the sole offensive fulcrum.
Ultimately that’s why this season will define Russell Westbrook’s legacy.
Russell Westbrook has been through it all. He’s seen first-hand what it takes to be an NBA champion. He’s experienced what it’s like playing with a supporting cast fit for the lottery. Westbrook has eight seasons to look back upon and take lessons from.
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It’s possible that Russ is a ball dominant guard who would rather be the undisputed top dog of an organization then a champion. There’s evidence of that too.
Last summer he excitedly let the world know Now He Does What He Wants. Twice. If that’s truly how he feels about himself as a player, we will be sure by the end of this season.
Paul George is Westbrook’s chance to change his narrative. He can take everything he learned in his eight seasons with Kevin Durant and curtail a perfect plan to reach maximum chemistry both on and off the court. It won’t be easy. But if anyone has the experience, it’s Russ.
Russell Westbrook is the most polarizing player in the NBA. He is viewed by NBA fans in one of two ways: a generational athlete with the means to lead a team to a title or a glorified ball hog who can’t keep talent around him. After this season we will know exactly where Russ fits.
My guess? Don’t bet against the Brodie proving his haters wrong.