9. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
It feels absurd to put a guy who averaged a triple-double in back-to-back seasons this low on the list, but there are a couple of factors working against Russell Westbrook. First, there’s the obvious fact that last season, when he averaged a jaw-dropping 25.4 points, 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game, it failed to register with voters.
There are many reasons for this, including the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder only won one more game than they did in Westbrook’s MVP season despite adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to the mix. Another reason he failed to show up on voters’ radars is the simple fact that he took a step down from the 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game he averaged the year before.
That kind of show us something new mentality puts the onus on Westbrook to lead a legitimate Western Conference contender if he wants another Maurice Podoloff trophy, not just post big numbers on an OKC team that serves as little more than first round fodder.
The playoffs don’t factor into MVP voting, of course, but everyone knew the Thunder weren’t a legitimate threat before they were ousted by the Utah Jazz. This year, Westbrook will be tasked with leading a revamped supporting cast, doing a better job of incorporating Paul George and posting MVP-caliber numbers on an improved team. The odds are already stacked against him thanks to that minor knee surgery.