Russell Westbrook had one of many biggest particular person seasons in NBA historical past. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder followers have without end captivated as among the finest gamers to go well with them, regardless of his calls for for a deal.
On paper, Russell Westbrook shouldn’t be an Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder fan’s favourite. Kevin Durant has all the time been higher, and Shy Gilgauss Alexander received the group in his first title final season.
However Westbrook stays a fan favourite, six years after being despatched to the Houston Rockets for commerce, he encounters applause each time he returns to Oklahoma Metropolis.
On July 16, 2019, the Thunder ended the ERA, changing Westbrook with a rocket from Chris Paul, with two first-round picks and two pix swaps.
In 2016, Kevin Durant made an notorious signature with the Golden State Warriors, becoming a member of the very best common season group of all time.
As if that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, the Warriors had eradicated lightning that 12 months’s postseason, so Durant had so a lot of his enemies.
With Durant gone, Westbrook took over and have become the primary participant in your complete season, averaging triple doubles since Oscar Robertson in 1962.
31.6 factors per sport led the league, including 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, profitable the MVP award regardless of profitable the sixth greatest report within the Western Convention.
Westbrook led the Thunder to a few consecutive playoff appearances with out Durant, and closely led the followers to the fun of his followers, and was brazenly bitter in opposition to Durant.
Westbrook finally referred to as for commerce in 2019, and was quickly granted, sending him to the rocket. Nevertheless, Westbrook did all the things he may to take care of OKC, and he parted methods with the fanbase and group in good relations.
In the summertime of 2019, Thunder parted methods with each Paul George and Westbrook, critically, Gilgauss Alexander and Paul returned.
Initially anticipated to be on the backside of the Western Convention rankings, Paul was an elite ground basic and chief, and SGA broke out as a manufacturing star. The Thunder completed that season because the fifth seed on precisely the identical report because the Rockets, who employed Westbrook and James Harden.
Houston finally traded Westbrook for the Wizard of Washington, and Paul received nothing throughout his solely season at OKC, however the 12 months of mentorship set the Thunder in 2025 for the ultimate.
