That Russell Westbrook play, explained

If you haven’t caught highlights from Saturday’s NBA action, you may have missed this incredible little Russell Westbrook move from Suns vs. Thunder.

In scientific nomenclature, this is a Shammgod to a no-look drop-off. But the Oklahoma City announcer’s classification of it as an “Oh [chuckle] OHH!” is also accurate.

Where to even begin? We’re in garbage time -- the Thunder are up 15 with less than three minutes left. The Suns have given up. Devin Booker is guarding Westbrook up top (a horrible idea), and Andre Roberson provides a screen to release even that nominal resistance. That pulls Tyler Ulis, one of the smallest players in the league, into the play. This is just terrible for the Suns. Just terrible.

Booker isn’t going to recover to be a factor in the play, which gives Westbrook a lot of daylight to set up a slow-to-react Ulis.

Westbrook has shooters in each corner and Steven Adams on the left block. He has a solid 15 feet of runway on Ulis. The typical move would be either a pull-up jumper (remember, it’s garbage time) or a left-to-right crossover to get past Ulis and into the paint.

Instead, Westbrook drives to the left hard enough that a crossover looks unlikely. Ulis turns to commit to defending the crossover.

But what’s that? Westbrook brings his right hand across his body? That’s no crossover. That’s ... that’s a Shammgod!

The Shammgod, named for the great God Shammgod, is a crossover dribble that uses the opposite hand to provide a little extra trickery on the move. You see it more in isolation situations, not when the ball-handler has a running start. It suspends belief that Westbrook can pull this off without careening into Ulis. It speaks to Westbrook’s incredible body control and agility.

Now Westbrook has daylight again. And he takes off into flight. Marquese Chriss releases from Adams to discourage Westbrook from dunking the ever-loving hell out of the ball.

As Chriss jumps to defend the rim, Westbrook brings the ball up with two hands (which is no way to shoot a layup) and no-looks it to Adams, who has barely moved the entire play. Chriss can’t do anything but try to deflect — he’s already jumped (leaving Adams open) on the side of the basket (leaving the right side of the hoop open had Westbrook gone for it). In the end, Chriss looks like someone who misjudges the angle on a block in NBA Jam and ends up swatting at nothing in particular.

Westbrook then lands like an action movie star, and Adams dots the exclamation mark. Let’s watch it again.

Wait, what was that at the end?

Why yes, Victor Oladipo (in a suit due to a strained wrist) is so hyped he’s dancing on the court. That play was worthy of turning Chesapeake Energy Arena into a Midwest Rucker.