Averaging a Triple-Double is HARD, Dammit.
The MVP case for Russell Westbrook
The 2016–17 season has showcased the tremendous talent currently playing in the NBA.
Nine players have scored over 50 points this season, a new NBA record. Amongst all of this talent, only a handful of elite players are able to make a case for themselves as true MVP candidates.
The MVP race is tightly-contested this season. Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are all potential candidates. Deservedly so, they have each put up their own remarkable feats this season. However, Westbrook is on a mission to accomplish something this year that no other NBA player has been able to do in 50 years; average a triple-double for the season.
The odds of achieving this milestone are in Westbrook’s favour. He now has a 97 per cent chance of averaging a triple-double for the course of the season, according to ESPN. In addition to matching the legendary accomplishment of Oscar Robertson, Russ also has an opportunity to set a new NBA record for triple-doubles in a single season.
He’s already tallied 35 this season, more than many stars will have in their entire career. To put things in perspective, Kobe only had 21, Michael Jordan had 28, and Lebron currently has 52 in his career. If Westbrook can add six more triple-doubles to his season total, he will tie Oscar Robertson’s record of 41 in a single campaign.
The two perpetual arguments haunting Westbrook’s MVP hopes this season are his sky-high usage rate and OKC’s record. However, in today’s NBA this high-level usage rate should be considered a positive. Just how many players would be durable enough to carry their team night-after-night as Westbrook has? With the supporting cast around him, OKC has no better option than to put the ball in their most valuable player’s hands, and let him make plays, something Russ has not failed to do.
So, where would Oklahoma City be this season without Westbrook averaging a league-high 31.2 PPG in addition to 10.5 RPG and 10.4 APG? The Thunder play to a plus-3.4 net rating with Westbrook on the floor and plummet to a minus-9.5 without him. These numbers provide an insight into the supporting cast, or lack thereof, that is currently surrounding the superstar point guard.
Whether you believe a high usage rate or lack of team wins may hold Westbrook back, there is no doubt how valuable he is to his team. If he is able to maintain his triple-double average and tie or improve upon Oscar Robertson’s single-season record, there is also no doubt whose name should be announced as MVP at the season’s end.
Matthias is a multi-sport contributor with theocho.ca, providing MLB, NBA and MMA coverage. Follow Matthias on Twitter @_MRoss00
