Russell Westbrook deserves his roses whether you love him or hate him

Regardless of personal preferences, it is time we start appreciating Russell Westbrook

With these differences in perspectives, the divisiveness that Westbrook elicits is comparable to nothing in basketball. Though the analytics turn many away from supporting his cause, Russ’s impact on the game and his uncanny leadership in the locker room will always offer a sharply contrasting narrative. Still, despite the discord, one thing regarding the polarizing former-MVP is guaranteed:

Russell Westbrook—love him or hate him—will always be Russell Westbrook.

He will always strike fear in his opponents for the first 47 minutes of a game but have to battle much harder to get over the hump in the 48th. He will always stuff the stat-sheet despite not being the most efficient and effective at doing so. His awe-inspiring moments will always blend with his head-scratching ones. That is the Russell Westbrook experience—swimming and drowning, ebbing and flowing, waxing and waning.

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Whether that is a beneficial thing for his teammates, coaches, and organization remains a question mark, but for the first time, maybe the collective basketball-viewing public should ask whether Russell Westbrook’s refusal to change even matters in the first place.

After continuing to blow our minds with nuclear athleticism and history-making performances on such a frequent basis, the answer to that question needs to be as emphatic a “no” as the rim-wrecking dunks he continues to punch upon his sorry opponents. We may be selective on if, how, and when we enjoy the Russell Westbrook show, but to fail to appreciate the greatness of his remarkable talents, relentless demeanor, and old-school gravitas would be grossly negligent.

What Russ accomplished on Monday night is nothing short of amazing. I’d say his new place in the record books will never be surpassed, but Westbrook has already proven that impossible-to-reach records are within grasp so long as a crazed person comes around to rewrite the narrative. Perhaps someone else will prove our ideas of impossibility wrong yet again.

Perhaps.

For now, though, giving Russell Westbrook his big bouquet of roses is all there is to do. After years of criticism from skeptics who failed to see the bigger picture—myself included—he deserves those roses more than many will ever give him credit for.