After a season’s worth of record-breaking, jaw-dropping historical performances, Russell Westbrook laid claim to the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award. He appeared at Basketball City in New York to accept the Bill Russell MVP Trophy on Monday, edging out two worthy finalists in James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Russell Westbrook is the 2017 NBA MVP, completing the Year of Russ
Westbrook wins league MVP after shattering NBA records all season long.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Westbrook’s epic 2016-17 season was underscored by shattering a longstanding record once held by NBA legend Oscar Robertson. The Thunder guard set the mark for most triple-doubles in an NBA season (42), breaking a record Robertson set 55 years ago.
Remembering Russ’ incredible season
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WELCOME TO LOUD CITY: Remembering The Year Of Russ
Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game to become the first player since Robertson to average a triple-double for a season. In doing so, he dragged Oklahoma City to a 47-35 record, good for 6th place in the Western Conference, without a viable second option on offense.
Westbrook’s Thunder were eliminated by Harden’s Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, but he also averaged a triple-double for the round, including the first-ever 50-point triple-double in playoff history. His year, both regular season and playoffs, was one of the most incredible individual outputs we’ve ever seen on a basketball court.
Westbrook’s season wasn’t all triple-doubles, however. If that was the case, the award likely would have gone to Harden, who led Houston to the West’s No. 3 seed by way of an incredible offensive performance of his own. Westbrook also posted the highest individual usage rate (41.7) and became the first player to ever average at least 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists (Robertson averaged 30.8 points).
It’s only fitting such a historical season result in league MVP honors. And Westbrook’s been crowned just that.
Let’s remember some of Westbrook’s best moments
If there was a single best moment of Westbrook’s season, it was when he destroyed the Suns’ defense with vicious Shammgod dribble:
The impossible game-winner he had from 35 feet out.
Wearing Willie Beaman’s jersey from Any Given Sunday.
The iconic, infamous CUPCAKE photo, which seemed innocent but turned out to be an amazing dig at Kevin Durant.
His Jim Halpert impression.
This absurd move that the Rockets had no chance of stopping.
But also when he knocked over his own teammate grabbing a rebound.
Westbrook dominated the NBA regular season. We’re going to remember The Year of the Triple-Double for a long time.
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