As I watched this game being played in Boston on Friday night, the sight of Celtic GM Danny Ainge’s face on the screen brought back emotions of this summer with the subsequent drama which followed Durant’s treasonous departure to Oakland. Many, myself included, figured Westbrook’s agent and Presti would cut a deal with a team like Boston with assets to start the Thunder’s massive rebuild to respectability.
There was talk of Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart attached with two first round picks for Russell Westbrook. But in hindsight that was just crazy talk as Westbrook signed an extension to finally captain his own ship in little Mystery, Oklahoma where the arena the Thunder play in originally housed a Double AA minor league hockey team named the Oklahoma City Blazers.
None of us were really sure what to expect with what Westbrook could be without Durant, but now thirty games into the season we know. Russell Westbrook is the best player in the NBA this season on Christmas Eve morning.
Tonight in Boston, Danny Ainge must have suffered mightily as he saw Westbrook in perhaps his grandest showing of the season to date. Another triple double. His 14th and 51st respectively.
46 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. He wasn’t just grand, he was Michael Jordan is what he was. There was an airness surrounding Westbrook tonight. He reeked of regalness (word?). He smiled knowingly. He teased and laughed with teammates. If the Denver mascot had been there—Westbrook would have stolen his lunch money and hopped away with that little devilish smile of his. He turned it on and off as he chose, but more than anything when he finally decided it was time–he scored the Thunder’s last 15 points and willed the Thunder over a decent Boston team by a 117-112 count. And he did it because he knew he was the best player on the floor and he could. That’s why.
This is the Russell Westbrook we live with in Mystery, Oklahoma, and the thing is, we never would have seen this Westbrook if not for Charlie Bell and Nike moving Kevin Durant over to Oakland to boost west coast Nike sales. Granted, it defrocked OKC’s title hopes, but then again we wouldn’t before our very eyes have seen Russell turn into Michael.
So here the Thunder sit on Christmas Eve at 18-12 tied with the Utah Jazz for the Northwest Division lead and in wait of Victor Oladipo and Cameron Payne’s return to make this a much more interesting basketball team.
But this isn’t a season like most during the Durant Era. This is the Westbrook Era and it has a different feel, a different ambience as fans try to figure how far Michael can take the Thunder without Durant if Sam Presti adds another piece before the trade deadline.
Minnesota Timberwolves in Oklahoma City on Christmas.