Russell Westbrook named 7th most fit male athlete by SI
By Tony Heim
OKC Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook made Sports Illustrated’s list of the most fit male athletes in the world.
Russell Westbrook would not be Russell Westbrook without his explosive athleticism. Westbrook’s combination of length, speed and power makes him an unguardable force in the world’s best basketball league – it’s why Sports Illustrated named him the 7th most fit male athlete on Earth.
Russ joins four other NBA players on the list: Blake Griffin (46), Kawhi Leonard (35), Hassan Whiteside (30) and LeBron James (2). It’s important to note that the criteria was more than just pure athletic ability. They factored not only performance in their sport, but the training methods and overall longevity of the athlete.
Here’s what they had to say for Russ:
"Westbrook earned the 2017 NBA MVP after averaging a triple double over the season, a feat no NBA player had achieved since Oscar Robertson in 1961–62, and earning a record 42 of them. Standing at 6’3”, Westbrook has an impressive 7-foot wingspan, explosive speed and stamina—plus a smooth shot."
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If this was a list based purely on athleticism I’d argue for Westbrook to be a few spots higher. Russ is the perfect athlete in the simplest sense of the word – there’s no holes in his skillset. Westbrook is fast AND agile, strong AND flexible. He has a huge vertical to match his uncanny length as a 6’3 human. The “problem” for Westbrook is that the six athletes ahead of him are slightly more well-rounded because of their sports.
NBA basketball relies on physical freaks, humans that are both unnaturally tall and explosive. Other sports, like soccer and tennis, rely on pure grace more than athletic ability. It’s why 36-year old Roger Federer is seen as more fit by SI’s panel of experts.
Russ should be honored to be featured so high on this list. Of all the incredible athletes in the NBA, only five made the list. Of those, only one – LeBron James – bested him. Westbrook’s offseason of achievements continue.