Russell Westbrook has had a great season. After coming back from injury he has shown his true potential and oh man has it been great to watch. The record-breaking All-Star Game was only scratching the surface. Multiple Triple Doubles, carried the Thunder without Kevin Durant or Serge Ibaka into a likely 8th Playoff seed. He has really grown this past year and in a lengthy interview with Sports Illustrated, he talked about how he pulled his socks up this year.
“There were times he’d get in his own world,” [Nick] Collison says, “and it was hard to calm him down.” Anybody who dropped a pass or blew an assignment could be subjected to the scowl. “Every time he looked at me,” says [Steven] Adams, “I just apologized.”
Last fall Westbrook watched a video of his reactions to plays positive and negative. He noticed how the Thunder responded to his body language for better and worse. “Let’s say a teammate turns it over, and I’m screaming and moving my hands, you can see in his face that he let me down,” Westbrook explains. “And then, on the next play, you can see the lack of confidence.” The opposite was also true. When he celebrated a teammate for hitting a shot, another bucket often ensued. “I saw how my energy can bring the group very high or very low,” Westbrook says. “It was a huge thing for me, a great thing.” He shared his observations with coach Scott Brooks, a former point guard. “Even if the guy should have caught the pass, you have to take the heat,” [Scott] Brooks says. “You have to take the blame. You have to tell him, ‘My bad.’”
Remember when everyone used to say that Russell Westbrook was a hindrance to the team? Well he took your advice and now he’s a beast.
There will always be haters. And this season has silenced said haters.
