Russell Westbrook: Paul George Is MVP Front-Runner Because of His Consistency
Feb 13, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 11: Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Westbrook believes George's consistency should give him the edge over the rest of the field, per ESPN's Royce Young:
"I mean we are tied, maybe third seed, whatever, but the way he's playing consistent. The one thing I always continue to pride myself on is being consistent. And this year, in my opinion, P has been very consistent. To be able to do the same thing every night is not easy to do. It's something that I don't take for granted. I think a lot of people around the world that don't play basketball, that don't play sports, don't understand what it takes to be consistent and get your mind right every night to be able to do something, so for him to do that and stay on the path to do that, he's definitely the front runner for my MVP."
That's high praise coming from a former MVP.
George has been on another level this season and earned his sixth career All-Star selection. After re-signing with OKC this past offseason, he is averaging career-highs in scoring (28.7 points per game), assists (4.1, which matches his career high), rebounds (8.0) and steals (2.3).
The 28-year-old's strong campaign has been highlighted by six 40-point games, including a 47-point performance in December that saw him drop 25 in the fourth quarter while helping his team rally from a 23-point deficit for a come-from-behind victory over the Brooklyn Nets:
And he has only gotten better since that unbelievable game.
George has averaged 39.7 points per game so far in the month of February while being held to fewer than 37 points in a game just once this month. Meanwhile, he has eclipsed the 30-point mark in 10 of his past 12 appearances. That includes a 43-point performance in which he set a franchise record with 10 three-pointers against the Miami Heat on Feb. 1.
With George leading the way, Oklahoma City (37-19) currently sits in third place in the Western Conference, just one game behind the Denver Nuggets (38-18) for the No. 2 seed.
Westbrook may be biased in the matter given George is his teammate. However, he's not alone. After George recorded a 47-point triple-double in a 120-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, both Damian Lillard and Evan Turner endorsed the Thunder star, according to Young:
Of course, George is not the only candidate with a compelling case. Reigning NBA MVP James Harden has elevated his game even further this season while leading the league in scoring at 36.5 points per game, reaching 30-plus points in each of the past 30 games. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists) is also in the mix.
Russell Westbrook 'Blessed with the Talent to Not Give a F--k' About Criticism
Feb 13, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook looks at the scoreboard during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in Houston. Oklahoma City won 117-112. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
"I've been blessed with the talent to not give a f--k," the guard said Wednesday, per Royce Young of ESPN.
Westbrook is currently averaging a triple-double for the third season in a row and has tallied a triple-double in a record 10 straight games.
Despite his incredible numbers, there is criticism that he is just chasing stats or that triple-doubles are overrated:
"Paul George is the MVP of the league... And the headline this morning is that stupid triple-double garbage? Not that Paul George is the best two-way player in the NBA this morning?!" — @ColinCowherdpic.twitter.com/cpkAlYCrvT
He is also struggling with his shot this season, making only 24.4 percent of his three-point attempts. His 41.2 field-goal percentage would be the lowest since his rookie year.
This has mostly kept him out of the MVP conversation this season, especially with Paul George taking on a bigger role on the roster.
Still, Westbrook doesn't seem to care what others think as long as he can help his team win.
The Thunder have surged up the standings in recent weeks with 11 wins in their last 12 games and now sit in third place in the West with a 37-19 record.
Video: Russell Westbrook Breaks NBA Record with 10th Straight Triple-Double
Westbrook finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists against Portland.
During his MVP-winning season, the eight-time All-Star was the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to average a triple-double over a full season. Now, Westbrook is on pace to average double figures in points, rebounds and assists for the third year in a row.
After Monday night, he's putting up 21.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game.
Unlike 2017 and 2018, though, Westbrook's heroics may not be entirely in vain. Oklahoma City is coming off back-to-back first-round playoff exits but sits third in the Western Conference at 37-19. According to NBA.com, the Thunder are13thin offensive rating (110.3) andthirdin defensive rating (104.9).
Westbrook may not even be the most important player on the team, either. Paul George is third in NBA.com's most recentMVP Ladderand earned a triple-double of his own Monday (47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists).
Although the Thunder would be clear underdogs against the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game postseason series, they seem poised to make a deep playoff run this summer, something they haven't done since Kevin Durant left for the Bay Area.
Video: Russell Westbrook Passes Michael Jordan with 8th Straight Triple-Double
Feb 7, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots between Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., left, and guard Jevon Carter, rear, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Add another triple-double achievement to Russell Westbrook's resume.
Westbrook tallied 15 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 117-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, marking his eighth straight game with a triple-double. It was the first time in three tries Westbrook has moved a seven-game streak of triple-doubles to eight, per ESPN.com.
BR Video
Michael Jordan also had seven straight triple-doubles during the 1988-89 campaign, while Wilt Chamberlain had nine straight in 1968.
The Thunder point guard tallied seven straight triple-doubles twice in the 2016-17 campaign but was unable to pass His Airness either of those times.
He will have an opportunity to tie Chamberlain's mark during Saturday's contest against the Houston Rockets.
Report: Hamidou Diallo to Replace Derrick Jones Jr in 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Feb 1, 2019
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 29: Hamidou Diallo #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic on January 29, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Hamidou Diallo will participate in the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. was supposed to take part, per Oliver Maroney of Lineups (h/t Haynes), but Jones has suffered a knee injury and will not attend.
Maroneyreported that Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins will be the last participant.
Diallo looks like an underdog heading into this contest. Smith was in last year's competition and was just one of two players to earn a perfect score of 50 on a single dunk attempt:
That may not have been his most impressive dunk of the year, however, as this one against the Hawks better represented his strength at the rim:
1. This DUNK from Miles Bridges 😲 2. The reaction from Kemba 😂 3. The nod to Vince Carter with the "rev 'em up" celebration ... against VC and the Hawks 👀#Hornets30pic.twitter.com/DnuelnxfOa
Diallo tied for sixth in max vertical leap and standing vertical leap among NBA draft prospects, so he could use that to his advantage. The ex-Kentucky Wildcat can also throw it down in traffic as well:
After the Bucks closed within four with less than two minutes remaining, George provided some breathing room with a monstrous dunk over Antetokounmpo. As if that weren't enough, he hit the biggest shot of the game with 48 seconds left with a deep three-pointer to extend OKC's lead from three to six after Milwaukee's late run made it a one-possession game.
Oklahoma City was in control for the majority of the contest but needed George's 36 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three steals to hold off the visitors.
Two of those points were some of the most memorable of the entire season.
Russell Westbrook on If He's Cool with Joel Embiid After Hard Foul: 'F--k No'
Jan 19, 2019
The Russell Westbrook-Joel Embiid rivalry added another chapter Saturday.
Tempers flared in the closing minutes of Oklahoma City's 117-115 victory when Westbrook and Embiid were involved in a collision that saw the 7'0", 250-pound Sixers center fall on top of the 6'3", 200-pound Thunder point guard:
The former NBA MVP noted that he believed the Philadelphia big man was a little extra in the collision. When asked to elaborate on the feud, Westbrook said, according to Young, "Go home, bro."
Embiid, meanwhile, didn't understand why Westbrook was upset, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps: "I don't know why he was mad ... but he's always in his feelings."
This heated rivalry featured no shortage of notable moments last season:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzbwUNaojpM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcT4t_clOvU
Be sure to circle Feb. 28 on the calendar, as that's when Westbrook and the Thunder will be hosting Embiid and the Sixers.
Russell Westbrook, Balanced Thunder Offense Beat Spurs 122-112
Jan 12, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- JANUARY 12: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense against against Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on January 12, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
Marco Belinelli had 24 points for the 25-19 Spurs. The 26-16 Thunder broke a three-game losing streak.
The teams were coming off a wild Thursday night matchup in which the Spurs beat the Thunder 154-147 in double overtime behind LaMarcus Aldridge's career-high 56 points.
Steven Adams' Quiet All-Star-Caliber Season Big Reason Thunder Are Contenders
The Thunder were sluggish out of the gate, falling behind 60-51 at the half and struggling on defense once again.
However, a 35-20 third-quarter advantage turned the game around, and center Steven Adams played a big part. He scored four points, grabbed five boards, stole the ball once and found himself at the right place at the right time for a powerful dunk to pump up the home crowd:
Adams, who finished Saturday with 12 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals, has steadily improved since entering the league in 2013. This season, he's averaging career highs with 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He's also making 60.1 percent of his field goals.
Oklahoma City is third in the Western Conference (and only three games behind first) largely because of his efforts, and fans have taken notice at the All-Star ballot box. As of Thursday, Adams was ranked sixth among Western Conference frontcourt players with well over one million votes.
Adams also received lofty praise from Westbrook on Thursday, via Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman:
Russell Westbrook on if coaches around the league recognize Steven Adams’s value: “They better.” pic.twitter.com/6B4lVncCO5
Ultimately, Adams' All-Star-caliber season will keep the Thunder contending for the NBA Finals well into the spring. He helps give the Thunder one of the more well-rounded starting lineups (and one of the best Big Threes) in the league.
Spurs Should Swing for Bona Fide Star on Trade Market
On Tuesday, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported that the "Spurs are also viewed as a team with significant interest in [New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis], according to league front office sources."
O'Connor also noted that acquiring Porzingis would be difficult to pull off given the cap space San Antonio would need to create.
Still, the report was noteworthy because Porzingis is one of the game's young stars. While he suffered a torn ACL that will likely keep him out for the entire season, the 23-year-old averaged 22.7 points and 6.6 rebounds last season. Big men who are 7'3" and can shoot threes aren't exactly a dime a dozen either.
But if the Spurs can't acquire KP, they should still make a push for another star if feasible. San Antonio is right in the thick of the playoff race at 25-19, but the team is in the middle of a clogged Western Conference where the top 14 teams are separated by just 10 games. Fifth through ninth only has a three-game gap. In other words, the Spurs don't have a lot of breathing room.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love seems like the best option. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report threw out a possible trade idea in which the Spurs would send Davis Bertans or Belinelli, Pau Gasol and a 2019 first-round pick to Cleveland for Love.
A toe injury has kept Love sidelined for all but four games, but the 30-year-old averaged 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds last season. While he's never been known for his defense, Love can score from anywhere on the court and could form a dominant frontcourt with LaMarcus Aldridge.
While the Spurs may still be hard-pressed to take down the Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference crown (every team will be), a move into the top two isn't out of the realm of possibility. With Aldridge turning 34 in the offseason, the Spurs should take advantage of the Cavs' 8-35 season and strike a deal.
What's Next?
The Spurs return home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Thunder hit the road to play the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Nick Collison's Jersey to Be 1st Number Retired by Thunder on March 20
Jan 12, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The team announced Saturday that the ceremony will take place on March 20, making Collison the first player in this franchise to have his number retired since moving to Oklahoma City 11 years ago.
"I am thrilled that Nick Collison will be the first Thunder player to have their number retired in Oklahoma City," Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said in a statement. "He has cemented himself as part of the fabric of this community and our organization by setting an example of commitment, hard work and authenticity. Congratulations Nick."
Collison spent his entire 15-year career with the same organization, originally drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003. He spent five years in Seattle before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City and remained a reliable presence for the next decade.
He and Russell Westbrook were the only players on the roster for the first 10 years of the Thunder era.
While he didn't make as much of an impact on the court as his seven-time All-Star teammate, Collison clearly helped the team, as evidenced by the fact that he kept being re-signed whenever his contract was up.
The 38-year-old finally retired after the 2017-18 season after 1,001 games played, including 91 in the postseason. He appeared in 20 games on the team's run to the NBA Finals in 2012.
Collison ended his career with 5,359 regular-season points, averaging 5.9 per game to go with his 5.2 rebounds per game. Although these numbers don't match up with some other players who have their numbers retired, he is truly a unique case.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich even showed his respect to an opposing player:
Gregg Popovich on the Thunder retiring Nick Collison’s number: “I’m glad they’re retiring his jersey. Pretty classy.”
With this type of endorsement, it's no wonder the Thunder will celebrate the forward's impressive career.
Paul George: New PG3s Are Like 'Having Pillows on Your Feet'
Jan 10, 2019
Paul George was in the process of developing his fourth Nike sneaker, the PG3, when he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2017. The blockbuster change would alter George's career and have ripple effects on his successful signature shoe.
When Nike Basketball footwear designer Tony Hardman, who has overseen the PG line, and George brainstormed what to incorporate into the third signature model, George requested the shoe tie back to his Southern California hometown. Once the trade happened, George added that he wanted to make the shoe lighter to keep up with new teammate Russell Westbrook.
The end result is a sneaker George believes will transcend the court.
"I thought we killed it," George said. "These 3s are up there as one of my favorites. I don't think we went away from a basketball shoe too much, but I do think we highlighted a bunch of areas where you can say that's a sneaker and not a basketball shoe."
The PG3 is nearly an ounce lighter than the PG 2.5, a hybrid of the PG1 and PG2 that George has hooped in this season. Hardman said they were able to reduce the shoe's weight by removing excess materials, utilizing a softer foam in the midsole and incorporating mesh on the shoe's upper.
While it's been trendy to incorporate space themes into shoes over the last year, George's NASA-inspired colorway isn't for clout but rather to pay tribute to his childhood growing up in Palmdale, California, located an hour north of Los Angeles. The city is home to an aircraft manufacturing plant that has built every NASA space shuttle and NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.
The vibrant hues of orange, blue and yellow are inspired by the center and conveniently blend well with his Thunder uniform.
"I love bright, vibrant, energy colors," George said. "When they brought the orange, I was all for it. The orange with the metallic gives it a nice pop. Then you've got five or six hidden colors that go along with it as well. It's a colorful shoe, but I don't think it's a shoe that's out there. It's a shoe that's perfectly color-coordinated. It goes great with the jersey."
George also has his hometown zip code, 93552, on the midsole. On the shoe's heel is one of his favorite quotes, which also serves as his Twitter bio: Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Fittingly, the PG3 uses circular traction resembling moon craters.
"It doesn't make sense that the sky is the limit when there's footprints on the moon," George said. "That's how I look at things. I always wanted more. I always saw myself at the highest level, whatever it is."
B/R Kicks spoke to George about his latest sneaker, how Kobe Bryant has influenced his signature line and how it feels to see an opponent wearing his shoes:
B/R Kicks: What do you like about the PG3?
Paul George: I wanted to tie it back to the sneaker days. Air Jordan 1s. Air Jordan 2s. Air Jordan 3s. They were shoes that fared well not only on the court but off the court. Like a collector's shoe that kids wanted to rock to school and dudes want to step out for on a night, and it could still perform like the PG1s and the PG2s. When I worked with Tony on the 3s, that's where our heads were. We wanted to get back to a traditional sneaker.
B/R: How significant is it for you to reach the third installment in your signature shoe line?
PG: I relate it to someone I looked up to in Kobe. People liked the Kobes because of how light they were, how great of a shoe they were from a performance standpoint and how low to the ground they felt. I feel I have that same level of followers that Kobe had when his line was at its height of his sneaker career. Guys relate to my shoes being comfortable, good grip and just a really good shoe on the court. I think there's an expectation I have with consumers about my shoes.
B/R: There are plenty of NBA players who wear your shoes. What do you hear from them?
PG: It's always been positive. The most feedback I get is comfort. "Your shoe is the only one I can play in." That's what we wanted to highlight and capture. I think the idea of having pillows on your feet is really behind the comfort level. It's dope in that aspect that people enjoy most out of the shoe.
B/R: How do you feel when an opponent wears your shoe?
PG: It's dope. I don't have that feeling [that] dudes can't wear my sneakers while I play them, or dudes can't wear my sneakers at all. I want to make a basketball shoe that people are going to feel good in, that people are going to play at a high level in. There's guys that probably respect me but if we were in the same room would not say 'What's up?' that wear my shoes. It's no love lost. It's cool that they like to wear my shoe.
B/R: Do you feel it gives you a mental advantage when an opponent wears your shoe?
PG: Sometimes my opponent will bring it up to me. I'm not thinking about the shoes, but if they're thinking about the shoes, I'm obviously in their head about it. So sometimes there's a mental note that he's aware that he's in my shoes. So there's no way I'm gonna let him get the mental edge.
If it's on their minds, that means going into the game, they're thinking about what shoe they're going to wear. They pick my shoes. Going into tipoff, they're thinking about how they can have this conversation with me or what could they say to me. So, I know from a competitive stance that I got 'em.
B/R: What kind of sneaker legacy do you hope to leave?
PG: I hope it's just an area of two-way players, lengthy wingmen that just kind of do it all in the game. That's what I hope with guys being in my shoe. They have some type of style that I affected in their games. If I can help them in any way—if that's the way I play or if it's something in my shoes that they gain some type of advantage with—that's ultimately what I'm looking for.
