Westbrook bristles at stat-padding accusations: 'I take pride in what I do'

Russell Westbrook needs 16 rebounds in the final regular-season game Wednesday to finish with a triple-double average for a second straight year.

With that historic milestone on the line, speculation and snarkery has begun to swirl about the prospect of Westbrook pilfering rebounds from his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates, or of teammates like Steven Adams simply boxing out their guys and allowing Westbrook to swoop in and grab loose balls in pursuit of the nice, round, double-digit average.

Westbrook, who's averaging 25.6 points, 10.1 assists, and 9.9 boards, predictably took umbrage with that line of thought.

"First of all, it's not a process," Westbrook told reporters after shootaround Wednesday. "It's not like Steven's boxing out and I get the rebound.

"A lot of people make jokes about, whatever, stat-padding or going to get rebounds. If people could get 20 rebounds every night, they would. If people could f---ing get 15 rebounds, they would. The people that's talking or saying what they need to say, they should try and do it and see how hard it is. Since everybody wants to be talking. I'm tired of hearing the same old, 'rebound this, stealing rebounds,' all this s---.

"I take pride in what I do. I come out and play, and I get the ball faster than somebody else gets to it. That's just what it is. If you don't want it, I'ma get it. Simple as that."

It's worth noting that Westbrook's individual rebounding is more a boon than an impediment to the Thunder's collective work on the glass. When he's on the floor, the Thunder grab 53.2 percent of available rebounds. When he's on the bench, that rebound rate sinks to 47.2 percent, which would rank dead last in the NBA (OKC ranks second overall).

Among Thunder players, only Adams has a more significant on/off rebounding impact.