LeBron James is the King and there is a reason Kawhi is known as the Claw. Isaiah Thomas is the 4th Quarter and James Harden stay cookin.’ All of these spectacular athletes are deserving of the MVP, but as we start the Finals, one member of the NBA upper echelon saw an early playoff exit: Russell Westbrook. Though he was unable his team to rally his team deeper into the playoffs, I still strongly believe that Russell should not be counted out of the MVP race.
The Hard Road
Since Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell and his teammates have been fighting an uphill battle. Some even believed that they would miss the playoffs for the second time since 2009. Perhaps that would have been the case if Russell Westbrook didn’t have as much heart as he does. This guy truly believes in doing it all for his teammates and has been dominate all year long even against teams far more stacked than his own. Sure signing Victor Oladipo and trading for Taj Gibson might have helped especially with the continuous improvements of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, but it truly was the heart and drive of Russell Westbrook that propelled the Thunder to the sixth spot in the West. With that said, how can we ignore the historical significance of Russell Westbrook’s play this season.
The Power
Many will deny his MVP status citing that he only averaged a triple double. Yet, do they not realize what they just uttered. Westbrook AVERAGED a triple double. That means on most nights he literally poured his soul into the powering his team along grabbing points, rebounds, and assists along the way. His strive for history made his teammates want to be better for him, so his amazing play was beneficial to all of his teammates as well. His athletic ability can only be compared this season to that of LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. Reaching the 42 mark, Russell Westbrook now has the most triple doubles in a given season. He is like a machine but better because he has a heart and a soul that won’t allow him to give up. That being said, I think his case for MVP comes down to what he represents.
The Legacy
Losing a teammate to a good team sucks. Losing a teammate to a team that won the most games in any given season is unbearable. Most players would have allowed their teams to drop off or leave as well so that they could begin the rebuilding process, but not Westbrook. He took an impossible situation and used it to make history. He played with an unmatched fire and ferocity that can only be marveled at. Yes, it’s true that the Thunder saw an early playoff exit, but that will only encourage Westbrook to come back stronger and better than before. His play this season represents the compassion, drive, and desire that every NBA player should exude. His fire breathing, rim rattling, triple double getting essence catapulted him to a historic season.
With little time left before the announcement of the 2016-2017 MVP, Russell Westbrook’s name should not be overlooked. Of course James Harden, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Isaiah Thomas are all deserving candidates for the honor, yet Russell Westbrook is as equally deserving if not the most deserving. His season was off the charts and I firmly believe that his hard work should garnish him the MVP award for the 2016-2017 season.
The Soapbox 