With each passing game, Russell Westbrook’s journey continues along the sacred lines of NBA history. I know we live in an age of millennial influence, Donald Trump, and the such, but with each passing Thunder game, Russell Westbrook has saved me from becoming completely jaded in regards to our current state of affairs. That’s one of the wonderful things about sport, it can make us hope and believe things can and will be better beyond the games.
Since July 4th, when Kevin Durant announced on the Players’ Tribune he was taking the easiest possible route to an NBA championship, Russell Westbrook has literally been a savior to not only the Thunder franchise, but this city itself. At a time when it could have been easy to become cynical, Russell Westbrook has done and said all the right things. He has put this city on his back and basically said, “Let’s go. Life goes on.”
For me, as an obscure Thunder blogger, it’s been a journey as well. My father and I attended Game 6 together. As those horrific last few minutes unwound, we looked at each other and knew in our hearts the Thunder season was over. We feared OKC would lose in Game 7 on the road, and they did.
My father’s battle with pancreatic cancer ended on August 23rd and to my eternal dismay, he’s not here with me watching not only Russell Westbrook’s journey as a player, but Westbrook’s evolution as a man. Westbrook is a smart dude. He was an excellent student and qualified for Stanford if I recall correctly. It’s part of what he is, but even more importantly for those of us who have watched him from his rookie season–his growth as a young man has given me hope beyond the lines of a basketball court.
Russell and his wife are expecting their first child in May. It’s going to be a son. Russell Westbrook is going to have a son and I say without reservation this son will turn into a solid man just as Russell has become because of the parenting he received from his loving, supportive parents. So, now I guess I need to talk about this game in Orlando last night.
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OKC won a game in Orlando last night they had no business winning. None. I’m almost certain I wrote that exact sentence on Monday night in Dallas. For the most part, Westbrook’s teammates went invisible into the night again against a bad Orlando team which is currently the No. 14 seed in the East. Good thing for the Magic the Russian oligarch owns the putrid Brooklyn Nets or else the Magic might be the worst team in the East.
The Thunder as a team were awful for most of this game. They trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half. They trailed 97-79 with six minutes left in the game. They trailed by 13 points with three and a half minutes left in regulation. But here’s what happened again, Russell Westbrook just said fuck it and took over the basketball game to the extent that the Orlando fans, like the Brooklyn fans, started MVP chants and basically cheered for Westbrook instead of their own team.
Westbrook scored 19 points in those six minutes of regulation. He hit a tough, contested three pointer with 7.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime. He then went on to score 7 points, grab 4 rebounds, and assist twice in the five minute overtime. In the last ten or so minutes of this basketball game, Russell Westbrook scored 26 points, but more importantly, he won another game for this Thunder team which somehow stands 43-31 with eight games remaining in the regular season. BTW, OKC clinched a playoff berth last night as well.
Westbrook’s line was something we never saw from either Michael or Kobe. His line was 57 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. The 57 points is the highest point total ever associated with a triple double in the history of the league. It was Westbrook’s 38th triple double of the season, he needs only three more to tie Oscar with eight games remaining. It would be nice if this could happen at home, but looking at the schedule it might very well happen in either Memphis, Phoenix, Denver, or Minnesota. We’ll just have to see.
OKC now stands at 43-13 only a half game behind the Clippers for the No. 5 seed. The Thunder have somehow won four of their last five on the road and are now 31-7 in games in which Westbrook has triple doubled. For those who think this is a stat deal, It’s not. It’s more to the point these young Thunder players are still the Bad News Bears and need Westbrook to do this every night just for the team to be competitive.
Kevin Durant may or may not win his first NBA championship with the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green. I could care less at this point. I’ve moved on and not just as a basketball fan. The reason is simple…Russell Westbrook. I owe Russell Westbrook, big time.
I’d wish Russell Westbrook good luck as father, but I know he doesn’t need it. Here’s there and he’ll be a wonderful father.
OKC hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
Russell with courtside post game comments.