Why Russell Westbrook is the MVP
The beauty of having five legitimate candidates for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as NBA Most Valuable Player this season is the arguing. But beyond fan debate, each player has an argument to make, and in this case Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder has one that's pretty damn strong.
As William Lou pointed out, James Harden has a case for the award when you consider the definition of the term MVP. Which player is most valuable to his team's success?
You won't get a debate from me that the Houston Rockets would be a 35-win team without The Beard, it's just that the Thunder aren't that far now from being a 35-win team and yet remained in the playoff conversation all year. The sole reason is Westbrook.
With Kevin Durant only playing 27 games this season, Westbrook has been the Thunder. Serge Ibaka missed 18 games. Westbrook himself missed 15. The player who has ended the season next to him in the backcourt is Dion Waiters.
Westbrook's output of triple-doubles are wonderful eye candy. They're great for name association, too – he joined the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Jason Kidd in racking up a double-digit number of trip-dubs this season.
But what they more importantly represent is a player carrying a team. Consider Westbrook's NBA-leading usage percentage this season and make note of the players and situations of their teams right behind him.
| Player | Usage Pct. |
|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook OKC | 38.4 |
| Dwyane Wade MIA | 34.8 |
| DeMarcus Cousins SAC | 34.1 |
Has the Thunder lost important games down the stretch? Yes, of course they have, because, outside of Westbrook, their playoff lives were staked on names like Enes Kanter, Steven Adams and Waiters.
The NBA MVP award has not historically always ended up in the right hands. Consider that Shaquille O'Neal – the most unstoppable player of his generation, and likely ever – retired with only one. While Westbrook is obviously not the same type of player as Shaq and it is a much different era now, he may qualify as the most unstoppable player in the league today.
But it's not about unstoppability or highlights. It's about value. Westbrook has proven his.