'We're in the presence of greatness.'
That’s how veteran broadcaster Brian Davis described Russell Westbrook during the Thunder star's monster 49-point, 10-assist, 16-rebound performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Incredible, especially as Westbrook recorded this mammoth triple-double while wearing a protective face mask, just four days after surgery to repair a cheek fracture.
He also did this:
‘Greatness’ is an overused word in the NBA (and it's worth noting that Davis is Oklahoma City's home announcer).
Yet it might be the right word here – this was Westbrook’s fourth consecutive triple-double.
The last player to tally at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in four straight games? Michael Jordan.
Good company, Russ.
It follows a February interview when Kobe Bryant was asked by journalist Bill Simmons if he saw any of himself in Russ.
“In approach to the game: 100 percent,” Kobe replied. “Russell, I believe, has the same mentality that I have had. Which is that it doesn’t matter. I’m going to go out here and play hard regardless of what they say,”
Somehow, comparing Westbrook to two all-time greats doesn’t seem right given that he may not even be the best player on his own team. He is putting together this statistically historic run without teammate and reigning MVP Kevin Durant, out since February 19 with a foot injury.
But last night, Westbrook, February’s Western Conference player of the month, completed something that puts him in the conversation with those legends. On stats alone, there is no doubt he belongs.
This is how Westbrook compares to some legendary guards at the age of 26:
| Season | Age | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | T | PPG | |
| Bryant | 04-05 | 26 | 66 | 40.7 | .433 | .339 | 5.9 | 6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 27.6 |
| Iverson | 01-02 | 26 | 60 | 43.7 | .398 | .291 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 31.4 |
| Jordan | 89-90 | 26 | 82 | 39 | .526 | .376 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 3 | 33.6 |
| Westbrook | 14-15 | 26 | 45 | 33 | .432 | .277 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 2 | 0.1 | 3.9 | 26.5 |
Stats from basketball.reference.com
Going by these stats, would you trade 26-year-old Kobe for current Russ if you were GM of the 2004-05 Lakers team that missed the playoffs in their first Shaq-less season of the 2000s? Maybe not, but you'd consider it!
Either way, Westbrook’s style of play – that of a force of nature who attacks the basket fearlessly and incessantly – is more reminiscent of Allan Iverson than Kobe or Jordan. Iverson led the 2000-01 Sixers to the NBA Finals without sharing the floor with anything approaching a Durant. The second-leading scorer on that team was Theo Ratliff.
Whether a role as undisputed leader of a team would be a better fit for Westbrook’s game is a fun debate, but we won’t know the answer until he and Durant are separated (perhaps by the latter's 2016 free agency).
Russell himself would no doubt swap every one of those triple-doubles to have Durant by his side from now until the end of the season. Players are judged by championships over stats.
In the meantime, set your alarm clocks to watch every minute of Westbrook-led Thunder basketball. Greatness doesn’t come along every day.
Jamie Goodwin is Web News Editor on gulfnews.com and has been an avid follower of the NBA for more than 20 years.
