Russell Westbrook is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA today, despite highlights and stat lines that may ..."/> Russell Westbrook is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA today, despite highlights and stat lines that may ..."/>
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Ranking each of Russell Westbrook’s many tenures

By Ari Schwartz

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Trail Blazers defeated the Thunder 111-98. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Trail Blazers defeated the Thunder 111-98. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The team Westbrook had the most impact on by far was the Thunder. While all of his other tenures only lasted at most a year and a half, OKC was his home for 11 seasons. With that came a lot of ups and downs, such as:

2011: Westbrook becomes an all-star, and the Thunder appear to be rising into contention despite losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals in a poor showing from Russ.

2012: The Thunder make their first NBA Finals appearance but lose in five games to the Miami Heat, and Westbrook is once again criticized for his postseason performance.

2016: After several playoff losses including one against the Golden State Warriors in which OKC blew a 3-1 lead, Kevin Durant leaves in the offseason, leaving Westbrook to lead the Thunder on his own.

2017: Westbrook puts up historic numbers of 31, 10, and 10, beating Oscar Robertson’s record for triple-doubles in a season. Russ wins the MVP award but OKC loses to the Rockets in the first round due to the weak supporting cast around Westbrook.

2018-20: The Thunder add Paul George in hopes of contending for a title. While George performed well in OKC for two seasons, he and Westbrook alone were not enough to make a deep playoff run. After losing in the first-round back-to-back seasons, the Thunder decided to blow it up and now have one of the brightest futures in the league.

I’d like to think that Westbrook’s legacy up to this point is defined by his time with the Thunder, and not by the one-year stints he spent in recent years.

Next. The time is now for Russell Westbrook and the Clippers. dark

The real question is whether his tenure with the Clippers will be just another one-year stint where he flames out in the playoffs or an even better legacy-defining moment we’ve all been waiting for in Westbrook’s career, whether we want it to happen or not. Personally, I’m hoping Russ gets his ring. But there’s one thing for certain: If he does as a key piece on a championship team, it will have to be this season.