- Slug: Sports-Westbrook history, 710 words
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By Matt Faye
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — Russell Westbrook and Suns coach Earl Watson share a lot of history.
They have the same alma-mater, UCLA. They were teammates in Oklahoma City during Westbrook’s rookie year with the Thunder, when Westbrook was a raw talent trying to make a name for himself. Watson was a seasoned veteran eager to help him with that.
But Friday morning at the Thunder’s shootaround, the focus was on a different sort of history.
Now nine years removed from sharing a locker room with Watson, the superstar pupil will attempt to put his name in the NBA record books at the expense of his former mentor.
When the Suns welcome the Thunder to Talking Stick Resort Arena Friday night, Westbrook will be trying to break Oscar Robertson’s single-season record of 41 triple-doubles — even if it does come against and fellow Bruin and a former teammate.
“I play the same way every night, man, regardless of who’s on the other side coaching,” Westbrook said. “The GM, who’s the other owner, who’s the other player, the trainer, the ballboy, the area host, security; it don’t matter.”
Westbrook has filled up stat sheets in three games against the Suns this season, averaging 41.7 points, 13.7 assists and 13.7 rebounds. But the last matchup between the two teams also included an on-court confrontation. Westbrook and Suns forward Derrick Jones Jr. got into a scuffle that resulted in technical fouls on each player. Phoenix went on to win that game, 118-111.
Thunder center Steven Adams said teams try to get under Westbrook’s skin, but he said Westbrook can handle himself.
“The deal is, I let him take the guards and I take care of the big guys,” Adams said.
For the season, Westbrook has averaged 31.8 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds entering Friday. Westbrook needs just six in the rest of the season to average a triple double for the season, something that hasn’t been done since Robertson accomplished the feat during the 1961-62 season.
The historic season has placed Westbrook in the thick of the NBA Most Valuable Player discussion, along with Rockets guard James Harden. Westbrook has history with Harden, too. They were teammates in Oklahoma City for three seasons. As for which players ends up with the award, Westbrook said there are different ways to define “valuable.”
“My job is to go out and play at a high level every night,” he said. “And if that’s MVP level, then that’s what it is.”
It has been a unique season for Westbrook following the departure of another high-profile former teammate, Kevin Durant, who signed with the Golden State Warriors.
Westbrook said there is widespread support for the team and his chase at history.
“The fan support, I think that’s been a little different for me than in previous years, just the people across the world supporting our team and still supporting us after obviously different changes on our roster,” he said.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan said if Westbrook averages a triple double this season, it is something that isn’t likely to happen again any time soon.
“It wouldn’t surprise me that this goes on for a long time before it happens again,” he said. “I’m not taking away from any of the players in this league — there are great players in this league. But I think if you’re talking about what Oscar Robertson did during that time, and because it stood the test of time, it shows how hard it is.”
But Westbrook is focused on winning, too.
“The most important part is to make sure our team is always feeling comfortable,” Westbrook said. “You don’t want distractions for your team, or anything outside, to bring your team chemistry down. That’s why I try to make sure everyone is comfortable and understand that team is first.”
While Westbrook has a solid grasp of the big picture, his teammates know the significance of what he’s close to accomplishing. If it comes down to one basketball, rebound or assist, they won’t get in Westbrook’s way — not that it would make a difference.
“If we’re up like 50 and I see a rebound coming, I won’t get it anyway because he jumps higher than me,” Adams said. “That’s the crazy thing, I go after a ball and he just jumps higher.”
