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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on from the court during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) looks on from the court during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Rank: No. 3

Position: Point Guard

Slash Line: .454/.297/.811

Season Averages: 34.5 MPG, 23.7 PPG, 10.4 APG, 7.7 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 3PM

Russell Westbrook is doing things that very few players in NBA history have ever done. Those who rival Westbrook’s current level of play include the likes of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Oscar Robertson.

For those who believe there to be a hint of hyperbole in that statement, start with the fact that Westbrook has 16 triple-doubles in 2015-16—the most by any player since Johnson had 17 in 1988-89.

For what it’s worth, Johnson won MVP in 1988-89, and Los Angeles did not have the best record in the NBA—Isiah Thomas‘ Detroit Pistons did at 63-19.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Westbrook is on pace to be the first player in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. Steals were introduced as an official statistic in 1973-74, which admittedly keeps Robertson off of the list.

Having a sample size of nearly 45 years is simply impossible to label as inadequate.

Take away the steals and Westbrook would be the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.5 rebounds since Johnson in 1988-89. Before Johnson and Westbrook, it hadn’t been done since Robertson achieved the statistical marks in 1965-66.

Catching Stephen Curry seems impossible, but Westbrook has quite the case to make for NBA MVP.

Next: Pole Position