Russell Westbrook (Getty Images file)
Spotlight on… Russell Westbrook, point guard, Thunder
When: Russell Westbrook’s performance in the evaluation period of Feb. 21-27 was off the charts. Three consecutive triple-doubles earned him The Denver Post’s NBA player of the week award.
What’s up: In a packed week of five games in seven nights, Westbrook showed no signs of wear, averaging a triple-double of 30.6 points, 11.8 assists and 10.6 rebounds. An incredible week completed an amazing February for the former UCLA star, who averaged 31.2 points, 10.3 assists and 9.1 rebounds in 12 games. He became the second player in NBA history to average 30-10-9 in a calendar month. The first? Oscar Robertson.
Background: Westbrook is having his best season at a time when Oklahoma City needs him the most. With Kevin Durant out because of injuries and the roster constantly reshuffled, Westbrook has played consistently brilliant basketball. The Thunder is 28-17 with Westbrook and 4-10 without him.
Dempsey’s take: The beauty of Westbrook’s performance in February is that it shed a deserved spotlight on one of the NBA’s all-time greats. Robertson is the NBA’s most underappreciated superstar, so anytime a current player’s exploits can highlight the amazing things the Big O accomplished, the better. Getting a new generation to learn more about Robertson, the best triple-double threat in NBA history, is good for the game.
