Oklahoma City Thunder Commit To Vision With Recent Moves

Sep 23, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5), Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) pose for portraits during Oklahoma City Thunder media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 30, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) passes the ball in front of Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Russell Westbrook’s Leadership

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a superstar point guard in Russell Westbrook. Positions are becoming obsolete in the modern NBA, just as they were in the 1960s, but Westbrook is the primary ball-handler, scorer, and facilitators.

With Westbrook signed through the 2017-18 NBA season, the Thunder now have a two-year window to test out how well this team can function.

Westbrook could re-sign with the Thunder in 2018, but these moves were all about providing him with strong surroundings. He now knows what the team he’d be re-signing with would look like, which means the next two seasons will be about developing chemistry.

Westbrook undoubtedly has the talent to lead Oklahoma City to success, but can he develop into the leader that the Thunder need him to be?

Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 3-point field goals made in 34.4 minutes. He recorded 18 triple-doubles and already has two triple-doubles in three games in 2016-17.

There’s no telling whether or not this experiment will work until it’s put into motion, but the Thunder certainly have an intriguing collection of talent.