NEW YORK – He had been the leading man for the duration of the NBA’s regular season, and for Russell Westbrook, there was no twist ending.
At Monday’s NBA Awards show, the Thunder guard was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, an outcome that had been expected since the regular season ended in April.
In leading the Thunder to 47 wins and a playoff appearance, Westbrook became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double – double-digit points, rebounds and assists – for a season.
Only Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 had done it before, and Robertson didn’t win the MVP then.