Former OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook will be inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame
As the teams prepare for the season restart, former OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook remains at home following a positive test for COVID-19. Although the man who kept Thunder Nation thrilled for 11 years is asymptomatic he has to wait out the virus until he can produce negative tests.
Hopefully, there are no ill effects from Westbrook contracting the coronavirus. As much as OKC Thunder fans want to witness their team do well many are still pulling for the former face of the franchise.
While with the Thunder, Westbrook accomplished many feats. He won Most Valuable Player and in three successive seasons registered a triple-double average.
From the start, the Brodie was a player who loved defying his critics. When OKC Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti selected him fourth in the 2008 draft many felt it was a reach. Turns out Presti and Troy Weaver knew what they were doing.
The three players selected ahead of Westbrook were Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo. Although Rose went on to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player both Beasley and Mayo failed to deliver the type of career Westbrook has.
That said, the 2008 Draft was full of talent with many draft selections still providing quality minutes in the NBA. Former Current OKC Thunder block master Serge Ibaka was selected 24th and current team member Danilo Gallinari was selected sixth in the class.
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Other active players from the 2008 draft class are Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, the Lopez brothers (Brook and Robin), D.J. Augustin, JaVale McGee, Courtney Lee, Nicolas Batum, George Hill DeAndre Jordan, Luc Mbah a Moute and Goran Dragic.
Westbrook to be honored by UCLA
Arguably, Westbrook has had the best career of all the players from his class but he and his former big man Kevin Love are about to receive honors from their alma mater UCLA. This week the university announced they will induct both Westbrook and Love into the UCLA Hall of Fame.
The Bruins announced the pair will be part of the 2020 Hall of Fame induction class along with seven others. Also on the list Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Westbrook spent two seasons with the university and led his Bruins to consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The team built a 65-10 record in those two seasons. While Westbrook was primarily known for his defensive prowess he also showed signs of his triple-double ability to come. In 2008 he led the Bruins in assists and steals plus he was third in scoring and rebounding.
Although, Westbrook and Love will be inducted with the 2020 class no specifics have been announced in terms of the ceremony and likely won’t be until the country gets a better grasp of controlling the coronavirus pandemic.
Congratulations to Russell Westbrook on yet another prestigious accomplishment to add to his curriculum vitae. And, here’s hoping he is feeling well and will soon join his peers at the Disney campus.