Who’s the NBA MVP?
Russell Westbrook – Ben Epstein
From purely a statistical standpoint, Russell Westbrook was prolific. He averaged a triple-double and set a new record for triple-doubles in a single season. He led an otherwise depleted team to 13 wins over .500, good for the sixth seed in the West. The lack of playmakers and talent other than Westbrook on the Thunder cannot be overlooked in considering his value. Absolutely everything goes through him on offense. He’s played in all but one game and brings unmatched intensity every night. Even in a season in which LeBron James put up career highs in nearly every major statistical category, Kawhi Leonard is the ultimate playmaker for the second-best team in the West and James Harden has been nothing short of spectacular, Westbrook deserves the MVP.