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HoopsHabit 2015-16 All-NBA Teams

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 12, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after dunking against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Oklahoma City defeated Toronto 119-100. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

All-NBA First Team

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: Point Guard

Age: 27

Slash Line: .454/.296/.812

Season Averages: 34.4 MPG, 23.5 PPG, 10.4 APG, 7.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 3PM

Russell Westbrook was just one vote shy of being a unanimous selection to HoopsHabit’s All-NBA First Team. With one look at his stat sheet, it’s not hard to see why Westbrook was such a popular choice amongst the writers.

Westbrook didn’t just play at a high level in 2015-16; he had one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history.

Stephen Curry is the clearly deserving winner of the MVP award, but in most other seasons, Westbrook would’ve run away with it. He recorded an obscene 18 triple-doubles, averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals, and helped the Oklahoma City Thunder increase their win total by 10 games.

In the process, Westbrook became the first player with at least 18 triple-doubles in a single season since Magic Johnson in 1981-82.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Westbrook is the first player in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals.

As purists will understandably note, steals weren’t introduced as an official statistic until 1973-74. Even without the steals, however, Westbrook remains in legendary territory, joining Magic Johnson in 1988-89, and Oscar Robertson—an insane four times—as the only players to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 7.5 steals in a full season.

Oklahoma City somehow winning the title would undoubtedly help, but regardless of how the Thunder fare in the playoffs, Westbrook’s season deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest in NBA history.

Next: All-NBA First Team: Forward