Westbrook: 'I'd rather be in the playoffs than win the scoring title'

He's earned himself plenty of individual accolades this season - including some MVP votes - but Russell Westbrook remains about winning, first and foremost.

So on the cusp of his first career scoring title, Westbrook is more concerned with the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff chances.

"I never really thought I'd be winning anything close to a scoring title, but I'd rather be in the playoffs than win the scoring title, to tell you the truth," Westbrook said Wednesday, as reported by ESPN's Royce Young.

Westbrook enters Wednesday's season finale averaging a league-leading 28 points per game, topping ex-teammate James Harden's average of 27.5, but the Thunder need a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves coupled with a New Orleans Pelicans loss to the San Antonio Spurs to qualify for the postseason.

"We have no choice. It's win or go home," Westbrook said of a Thunder team that hasn't missed the playoffs since his rookie season six years ago. "We've got to go out and take care of our business. That's all we can do is handle what we do."

Of course, while he won't talk much about his individual success, Russ would surely take a scoring title with his playoff berth.