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Russell Westbrook: Playoffs Or No, A Memorable Season

By Sam Richmond

Apr 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Orleans Pelicans knocked off the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, clinching a playoff berth and ending the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season sooner than anybody could have predicted heading into the season.

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As a whole, this was a season to forget for the Thunder. They were ravaged by injuries from start to finish and fell way short of their ultimate goal.

But from an individual standpoint, this was a season to remember for Oklahoma City’s 2014-15 MVP, Russell Westbrook.

This was the season where Westbrook emerged from Kevin Durant‘s shadow. This was the season where Westbrook silenced all of his critics. This was the season where Westbrook proved once and for all that he’s without question one of the greatest players in the game today.

Westbrook finished the year as the NBA’s scoring champion with 28.1 points per game. He also averaged 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds.

More than anything, though, Westbrook’s season will be remembered for what he did specifically in the second half of the season.

A foot injury kept Kevin Durant out from Feb. 19 until the end of the season. During that stretch, Westbrook carried his team to a degree few have in today’s era. He averaged 31.2 points, 10 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game from the All-Star break to the end of the season.

At one point, he recorded four triple doubles in a row, the first time such a streak had happened since Michael Jordan during the 1988-89 season. He ultimately finished the year with 11 triple doubles. No other player in the league had more than three.

Westbrook won’t win the NBA’s MVP award for this season and, frankly, he shouldn’t. Stephen Curry and James Harden are both had terrific years and deserve the honor more.

But there’s no denying how absurdly valuable Westbrook was to the Thunder during this trying year. Without him, they don’t enter Wednesday night’s action with a chance at the postseason. They would have been out of the postseason race long before then.

According to NBA.com, the Thunder’s net rating was minus-2.9 points per 100 possessions this season when Westbrook was off the court. To put that in perspective: the 38-44 Brooklyn Nets had a net rating of minus-3.2 points per 100 possessions this season.

Westbrook kept the Thunder afloat all year long, going full speed for 34.4 minutes per game. It’s the only speed at which Westbrook knows how to play and it’s why he’s so fun to watch.

He’s the ultimate competitor, which was made even more clear by his comments made after the Pelicans clinched the No. 8 seed in the West.

While Anthony Davis absolutely deserves to make the playoffs for the great season he put together, it’s a shame that his postseason presence denies Westbrook a spot in the dance after the special season he had.

The Thunder’s season is over, which means we as basketball fans have to say goodbye to Westbrook for a few months. But we’ll never forget what he accomplished this season and, for that, he should be proud.

Next: 50 Greatest NBA Players Without a Championship

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