Russell Westbrook’s 5 best seasons
Table of Contents
Russell Westbrook. Just the name itself evokes a visceral reaction in any devout follower of basketball. A freak of nature, a chaotic storm, an unfathomable enigma - Westbrook's career has been a series of intoxicating highs and head-scratching lows, with a pinch of raw emotion and relentless competitive spirit.
1. 2016-17 Season, Oklahoma City Thunder
First on the list, the year 2016-17, when Westbrook went supernova. It was like watching a man possessed, as if he was channeling the ghost of Wilt Chamberlain and the spirit of Oscar Robertson simultaneously, all with the ferocity of a young Michael Jordan. He averaged a stupefying 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game - a line not seen since the days of Robertson. It's as if he was playing on a turbo-charged Playstation with a cheat code. He wasn't just a man on a mission; he was a lion hunting his prey - the league and its numerous records. Kevin Durant's departure was the perfect storm, and Westbrook, the eye of the hurricane, refused to let the Thunder get lost in the aftermath.
2. 2019-20 Season, Houston Rockets
Next up is Westbrook's 2019-20 campaign in Houston, a season that was the basketball equivalent of a hard rock guitarist discovering the allure of the blues. Here was Westbrook, a perennial triple-double machine, putting aside his jack-of-all-trades mantra and focusing on his primal instinct - attacking the rim. He averaged 27.2 points per game, shooting .472, a career-high - as if he found his shooting touch in the lost city of El Dorado. It was like watching Picasso trading his paintbrush for a chisel, carving masterpieces into the heart of opposition defenses. The man who loved to take flight was now grounded, and in doing so, he discovered a new way to soar.
3. 2017-18 Season, Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2017-18 season was Westbrook's equivalent of "The Godfather Part II" - a sequel that wasn't just a rehash of the original, but a compelling story in its own right. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive season, a feat as absurd as building a second Mount Rushmore next to the original one. But Westbrook wasn't just a sightseer in his monument; he was the architect, the builder, and the tenant. Even with the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, Westbrook maintained his whirlwind pace, somehow finding the sweet spot between being a lethal scorer and a generous facilitator.
4. 2014-15 Season, Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2014-15 season, Westbrook's 7th year in the NBA, had the intensity of a Quentin Tarantino film, pulsating with raw energy and fiery charisma. You could almost hear the iconic "Flight of the Valkyries" soundtrack playing as Westbrook orchestrated his own Apocalypse Now. He carried the Thunder like Atlas shouldering the celestial spheres, with Durant sidelined due to injuries. The man was a one-man army, leading the league with 28.1 points per game while also contributing 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists. His playing style was as exuberant as a Keith Moon drum solo and just as impossible to replicate.
5. 2020-21 Season, Washington Wizards
Finally, we arrive at Westbrook's 2020-21 odyssey with the Washington Wizards. After all the crescendos of his career, the tumultuous symphony that was his season in the capital city was a beautiful epilogue. It was like watching Hemingway penning his last masterpiece - full of finesse, power, and just a hint of nostalgia. Westbrook didn't just walk into the Wizards' locker room; he waltzed in like Fred Astaire and transformed the team into his dance partner. Averaging 22.2 points, a career-high 11.5 rebounds, and an NBA-leading 11.7 assists per game, Westbrook became the triple-double king, surpassing Oscar Robertson's long-standing record. The Wizard of West-brook took us all down the yellow brick road of his illustrious career, and oh, what a magical journey it was!
In essence, each of these seasons symbolizes a distinct stage of Westbrook's rollercoaster career, marked by unparalleled fervor, relentless determination, and an uncanny ability to astonish. No matter where he goes or what he does next, one thing is certain: there will never be another Russell Westbrook. We've been riding the whirlwind for 15 years, and every gust, every gale, and every tempest has been a testament to the sheer force of nature that is Russell Westbrook.
To paraphrase the immortal words of The Doors, "Ride the storm, baby." Indeed, Westbrook has ridden the storm, and in the process, he's given us a thrilling spectacle that will echo through the annals of NBA history. A storm chaser, a storm creator, and a storm himself, Russell Westbrook is a hurricane that keeps on going. Whether he's spinning out triple-doubles or reinventing his playing style, the winds of Westbrook are always worth watching.
