Washington Wizards: Russell Westbrook is an enigma

What is Russell Westbrook in 2021

We’re heading towards 2000 words on Westbrook and who he is as a player still isn’t all that clear. He’s an elite shot creator and shot misser. He’s a dynamite passer and the king of turnovers. He’s an incredible rebounder but rarely grabs the ones that count.

Westbrook’s style of play is a tour-de-force of antiquated analytics. He worships at the altar of the boxscore and has built an entire game and persona around it. He is a Hall of Famer. He is a world-class entertainer. He is captivating. He is also past his prime, maddeningly frustrating and increasingly the bad is beginning to outweigh the good.

Russell Westbrook isn’t an All-Star anymore. He is a player of extremes, both negative and positive. When you see the positive side of his game he looks like one of the best players on the planet. However, when you see his negative plays you wonder how he is still in the NBA.

Your opinion of him will be dictated by how you weigh these positives and negatives. Instead of focusing on what he can do or what he can’t do, focus on what he does. He gives a team almost as much as he takes away. Westbrook isn’t really an enigma anymore. He’s average. He just figured out how to get there by being one of the best and worst players in the world.