My favorite Russell Westbrook moment of the 2016-17 NBA season came during the Thunder’s very first game of the year. It was actually one of the few games this season that Westbrook didn’t record a triple-double—he finished with "just" 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists—but he gave the world a much greater gift during that game. After a 76ers fan inexplicably flipped Westbrook the bird and yelled a string of expletives at him, he responded by doing this:
That moment isn’t going to earn Westbrook many, er, any NBA MVP votes at the end of the regular season (not unless the NBA decides to give NBA Twitter a vote). But it was a priceless reaction, and it’s the same exact reaction most NBA fans have had to seeing some of the stats Westbrook has used to stuff box scores this season.
Since the first game of the year, Westbrook has provided us with signature moment after signature moment, similar to what Steph Curry did during the 2015-16 NBA season en route to his second straight NBA MVP award. From his first 50-point triple-double in the Thunder’s second game of the season to his third 50-point triple-double in the Thunder’s 80th game of the season on Sunday—which was also his 42nd triple-double of the season, breaking Oscar Robertson’s longstanding single-season triple-double record—Westbrook has literally done everything he possibly can to wrap up the MVP honors this season.
Yet, somehow—and this is a great problem for the NBA to have—everything Westbrook has done thus far this season still hasn’t been enough to solidify himself as the only real MVP candidate. James Harden is still right there neck-and-neck with him in the MVP race, and LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have more than qualified to run in the same heat as those two. But at this point, hasn’t Westbrook given us all of the signature moments we need to crown him the king of the regular season? As you're about to see, the evidence is overwhelming…
Westbrook’s First 50-Point Triple-Double
Opponent: Suns
Date:10/28/2017
Stat Line: 51 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists
What Made It So Special: While this performance looks pretty pedestrian now that Westbrook has done it two others time since then, this was the first 50-point triple-double since 1975 at the time.
Westbrook’s Epic 4th Quarter Comeback
Opponent: Nuggets
Date:11/25/2016
Stat Line: 36 points, 11 rebounds, 17 assists
What Made It So Special: Westbrook scored 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to help the Thunder overcome a 13-point deficit. Late-game comebacks would eventually turn into a staple of Oklahoma City’s season.
Westbrook’s Game-Clinching Dunk
Opponent: Rockets
Date:11/16/2016
Stat Line: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists
What Made It So Special: Westbrook came up shy of a triple-double in the Thunder’s lone win over the Rockets on the season, but he uncorked a vicious left-handed dunk over shotblocker Clint Capela with five seconds left to give Oklahoma City the game.
Westbrook’s OT Domination
Opponent: Wizards
Date:11/30/2016
Stat Line: 35 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists
What Made It So Special: After going just 7-for-28 from the field through the first 47 minutes of the game, Westbrook sunk a three-pointer late in regulation to force overtime. Then, he scored 14 points in the extra session to help the Thunder win comfortably.
Westbrook’s Historic Triple-Double Streak
Opponent: Hawks
Date:12/5/2016
Stat Line: 32 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists
What Made It So Special: Westbrook became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to reel off seven straight triple-doubles.
Westbrook’s Fearless Dunk Over DeMarcus Cousins
Opponent: Pelicans
Date:2/26/2017
Stat Line: 41 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists
What Made It So Special: Westbrook might just be the most fearless player in the NBA. Case in point: This dunk over Cousins during his early days with the Pelicans. It resulted in Cousins fouling out of the game.
Westbrook’s Mark Cuban-Silencing Game-Winner
Opponent: Mavericks
Date:3/27/2017
Westbrook’s Stat Line: 37 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists
What Made It So Special: Cuban has refused to call Westbrook a superstar over the last year. Westbrook responded by helping the Thunder erase a 13-point deficit in the final four minutes of this game before sinking the game-winning shot.
Westbrook’s Second 50-Point Triple-Double
Opponent: Magic
Date:3/29/2017
Stat Line: 57 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists
What Made It So Special: The Magic led by 21 at one point in the second half. That is, until Westbrook went off and dropped 57, the most points ever scored during a triple-double in NBA history.
Westbrook’s Perfect Triple-Double
Opponent: 76ers
Date:3/26/2017
Stat Line: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists
What Made It So Special: Westbrook didn’t miss a single shot during this game. He made all six of his field-goal attempts and all six of his free throws.
Westbrook’s Third 50-Point Triple-Double
Opponent: Nuggets
Date:4/9/2017
Stat Line: 50 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists
What Made It So Special: He broke Oscar Robertson’s record for most triple-doubles in a single season and knocked Denver out of the playoff race with what might eventually go down as his craziest game-winning shot ever. If that isn’t enough to win MVP, what is?
