As not only a passionate fan of the Thunder, but the NBA as a whole, I’ve completely gotten over the Durant leaving for Golden State thing. Fact is, when the Warriors come here in February for the first time with Durant, I plan on writing something called ‘Why I’ll Never Boo Kevin Durant.’ It might end up even reading like a smooshy love letter, but I refuse to boo him.
I have to admit if Westbrook hadn’t signed his extension I would not be enjoying this season so much. And, yes, Westbrook will become an unrestricted free agent in 2018, but seize the moment is what I say.
Westbrook is going to make a serious run at a regular season MVP and a run at becoming the millennials version of Oscar Robertson. This is some pretty heady NBA basketball history for those who need nine different metric stats trying to explain +/- to themselves.
Would we have seen this completely unabashed version of Westbrook if not for the departure of Durant to the Oakland Super AAU team? Doubtful. Now we get to see Westbrook as his own man assimilating Oladipo and Adams into his own core three with Russell being his own CEO where we don’t have to listen to the ad nauseum bullshit of how many shots Westbrook takes versus how many Durant takes via the narrative of the national media.
I will admit though, in a just NBA historical world our Thunder should have gotten a player in return from Golden State. Part of me wonders mightily how a Thunder starting five of Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, and Domas Sabonis might look. C’mon, Jerry West, don’t be such a pussy. Send us Klay Thompson. Seems fair to me.
But even as the Thunder is constructed this season will not lack in meaning, entertainment, or historical NBA significance because Russell Westbrook is all in.
In closing, my plea to fellow Thunder passionates is to sever yourselves from the Durant exit and to embrace the Year of Westbrook.
Kobe Bryant called Russell the closest thing to himself in this millennial era of the NBA. He even went on to describe Westbrook as one Bad Little Dude several years ago before Westbrook elevated his total game to this new Super Westbrookian level. Michael Jordan described Westbrook as a very special kid. Not bad endorsements to have for your brand and not a bad thing for this rogue blogger in Deer Creek, Oklahoma.
Know this and know it well, what we’re seeing and living with Russell Westbrook is very special. Perhaps historical. Enjoy the ride. Carpa diem. I know I’m going to savor every single game of it.
Thanks for this inspiration!