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NBA Trade Rumors: Russell Westbrook Should Stay With OKC

By Maxwell Ogden

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 /
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May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) instructs guard Russell Westbrook (0) against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan (left) instructs guard Russell Westbrook (0) against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Great Coach

The Oklahoma City Thunder went from missing the playoffs to being a win away from the NBA Finals. As was the case throughout the 2015-16 season, however, the results weren’t quite as important as the process.

Head coach Billy Donovan has begun to transform the Thunder into an entirely new team, and Russell Westbrook should see that vision through.

Donovan’s brilliance was found in the development of Westbrook himself. Westbrook cut down on his shot attempts, posted the second-best field goal percentage of his career, and averaged a career-best 10.4 assists per game.

Donovan also had Westbrook become one of his most prominent rebounders, thus making the Thunder’s transition attack that much more fluid.

Over the previous three seasons, Westbrook averaged 7.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds on shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 46.6 percent on 2-point field goals. In 2015-16, he averaged 10.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 50.3 percent on 2-point field goals.

It was the first season of Westbrook’s eight-year career during which he shot better than 50.0 percent on 2-point field goals.

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