Russ Westbrook got better this summer. I’ll tell you that!!!!!!!! 🤷🏾♂️
— Brandon Jennings (@brandonjennings) September 7, 2017
Brandon Jennings recently tweeted that last season’s MVP, Russell Westbrook, got better this summer. If anyone has seen Westbrook’s highlights from his recent summer league videos, they would know that Jennings is on to something. Averaging 31.6 points per game along with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists during the regular season last year, it’s hard to imagine Russell Westbrook getting any better. He’s already a top five player in this league and is dominant on both sides of the ball. His killer athleticism and improved shooting only makes him all the more dangerous. If Jennings is right then it may not be too long before fans see Russell Westbrook showing off his own championship ring.
After Kevin Durant left the Thunder many thought the team would fall apart. Westbrook simply would not let that happen. Thanks to his truly spectacular play, he led the team to the sixth seed in the West. Unfortunately, the Thunder suffered an early exit in the playoffs to the Houston Rockets. That, of course, doesn’t take away from how hard Westbrook worked last year. He ended up winning the MVP over both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, cementing his dominance over the league. Brandon Jennings’ tweet reveals that Westbrook is looking to build off of that, not slacking off even a bit this summer. He wants to dethrone the Golden State Warriors as the West’s dynasty.
Of course, a basketball team is more than just an army of one. Russell’s outstanding and exemplary play doesn’t mean that he doesn’t need to have a solid team. Last season, it was abundantly clear that come playoff time Oklahoma, as a whole, was lacking. Without Westbrook on the floor the team barely held their own. Going into the 2017-2018 season the Thunder sought to amend that by trading for perennial all-star Paul George. The 6’8 forward has been a presence in the East for years. His athleticism along with his great shooting ability will compliment Westbrook in a multitude of ways. Factoring in Steven Adams and Enes Kanter with the newly acquired Patrick Patterson behind Paul George, Russell may have a pretty solid squad standing behind him. There’s no doubt that he’s going to show up and play as hard if not harder than he did last season. With a strong team behind him combined with his top quality play, Westbrook may have what it takes to lead the Thunder back to the NBA finals.
The Soapbox 