The Russell Westbrook Experience

Author’s Note: I, like many others, have crucified Russell Westbrook in the past. Whether it was through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, an article, or any other form, I can’t recall the number of times I uttered criticisms of him that I now realize were really dumb. “He should pass the ball more,” everyone kept articulating, and so did I. I tried to think of Westbrook in a certain context, but failed to appreciate him for the player he is, and not who many others and I wanted him to be. So, yes, if you’ve seen me say something snarky, sardonic, or anything in the negative about Westbrook in the past and want to call me a “bandwagoner,” then by all means, go ahead. I don’t care. I might be late to the party, but the Russell Westbrook experience is absolutely exhilarating, and I’m lucky to have seen the light just in time.

MANILA, Philippines – Over the past few years, there has been no more polarizing figure in the NBA than Russell Westbrook, save for maybe LeBron James. However, after the latter won his first championship in 2012 – ironically against Westbrook’s Thunder – most of the criticism came to a halt. There were no more taunts of “The King Without a Ring,” or “Choker!” after James managed to get the proverbial monkey of his back, break through, win a title, and live up to the expectations his talents demanded of him.

While belittling James hasn’t exactly come to a stop – we often still hear chants of “flopper” – it’s no secret that the noise has died down. But NBA fans are ruthless, and they’re always looking for the next person to berate. When James shut up most of his haters up two years ago, they turned to another player to throw their wrath on. 

Enter Russell Westbrook.

Admittedly, it’s not hard to scratch your head when watching Russ on his bad days. The former UCLA standout became a wide-open target for all kinds of basketball pundits, from the most casual NBA fans to some of the league’s eldest analysts. “He doesn’t pass the ball enough to Kevin Durant,” they claimed. “He’s not a point guard, he always wants to shoot the ball!” they kept on complaining.

Only Westbrook didn’t care. Scratch that, he didn’t give a single damn in the world. The more people told him to pass the handle to KD and Co., the more he pulled up for mid-range Js. The more critics requested him to play in control, the more he decided to steamroll like a raging bull against any defense he faced. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder were winning, though. In 2011, when the Westbrook fiasco was in its inception, the team still made the Conference Finals in the almighty West. The year after, with most of the attention on James but some on Westbrook as well, OKC made it to the finals, in which Russ exploded for a playoff career high of 43 points in a very critical Game 4. 

The Thunder lost, rewarding Miami a 3-1 series lead and essentially the NBA championship. But Russ played his heart out. However, after the contest, some dared to say he didn’t pass the ball enough to Kevin Durant. KD: the guy who can do no wrong; the perfect, humble, model superstar of the NBA today. The one who was outplayed by LeBron for the majority of the series. Russ didn’t pass the ball to KD because he was a selfish, “I want all the attention to myself”-type of player. He was taking most of the shots because in that game, he was the man. He was rising to the moment while Durant was passive and overwhelmed by the moment, it seemed.

Still, the media talked, and Russ was criticized even more. I was a prisoner of the moment, because I believed what everyone else was saying.

(RELATED: Holding Court – ‘Serge’ factor gives Thunder power surge to tie West Finals)

But the truth was, I just wasn’t smart enough then. Maybe I just didn’t open my eyes. I didn’t know that in the Oklahoma City Thunder roster, it’s Russell Westbrook who’s the true leader of that team, not the guy who just won the NBA MVP award. Don’t get me wrong: Durant is more talented and the better player overall. But that team goes as Russ does. 

Russell Westbrook, at the end of the day, is the most polarizing player in the National Basketball Association today.

In the 2014 NBA Playoffs, calling Westbrook sensational would be an understatement. With averages of 25.8 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 7.6 RPG, Russ has put to rest any claims about whether or not his knee – which has undergone three surgeries in the past year – is still not 100%.  

Furthermore, Westbrook has made a case for being the best point guard in the NBA.

Tony Parker? Get out of here. Parker’s looked older and slower than he has in recent memory this season, and he hasn’t been able to guard Westbrook to save his life in this year’s Western Conference Finals. To put it simple, Russell has abused the Frenchman. In today’s Game 4, the OKC point guard recorded 40 points, 10 assists, and five boards. But, yeah, he’s not a playmaker and just a ball hog, right? I’ll take those numbers over any pass-first guard in the world.

Chris Paul? Don’t give me that. Paul gets stats and will lead the NBA in assists and steals and whatever, but he has come up short in the postseason EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Don’t call him a superstar. To be one, you’ve at least got to get past the second round once in nine years. Paul hasn’t. And don’t also argue that Paul hasn’t had enough help, not with the talented cast he’s had around him in Lob City.

Moreover, while the Thunder got the benefit of the call in the Western Conference semis against LAC over and over again, Westbrook rendered Paul’s “elite” defense useless. And it also didn’t matter who was waiting for Russell at the rim – DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, Glen Davis, whoever – they were all victimized.

Westbrook is a superstar. Or, at least, he’s closer to being one now than Paul is, and that’s the stone cold truth. Add that with the fact that the public admires Paul while Russ is mostly despised, and you just have to wonder why things are the way they are.

Evaluators judge Russ harshly for screaming his lungs out and staring down an opponent after a thunderous dunk. So what? How many times did Michael Jordan do that in his career, even before his first ring in 1991? Some have condemned him for not passing the ball enough, while quite a number of them would scream at any Los Angeles Lakers player who takes shots away from Kobe Bryant. Oh, and here’s an interesting tidbit: Westbrook was just as, if not better and more athletic, than early 2000’s Kobe. Take that.

And to those who claim Russ should give the offense more to Durant because of KD’s hot streak this past January: tell me again how OKC did last playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies when Durant was all by himself? The MVP needs his sidekick just as much as the other way around, if not maybe even more.

So, congrats, Kevin Durant. You’re probably the luckiest superstar in NBA history. When OKC wins, you’ll get most of the credit. But when you guys lose, heads wont turn to you first, because they’ll all be toward Westbrook’s direction. It’s a very harsh reality, and one that is absolutely unfair.

But at the end of the day, I hope NBA fans don’t let their personal biases get the best of them the way it did me in the past few years. Stop listening to attention-seeking guys like Skip Bayless and appreciate the Russell Westbrook Experience. We are absolutely lucky and fortunate to live at a time when we can watch someone as intense, passionate, and talented as he is. Whether it’s his rim-shaking dunks, beautiful pull-up jumpers, psychotic-like defense, stare downs, or monster-like screams, Russ is one of a kind – someone the NBA is tremendously lucky to have.

So, stop hating and just sit back, relax, and enjoy the Russell Westbrook Experience. Because if you do, you’re in for a hell of a ride. – Rappler.com