Russell Westbrook News: Pro Sports Daily

Around the League: Whispers don't faze Westbrook

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March 14

Sacramento Bee

"Russell Westbrook heard the talk before the 2008 NBA draft. He might still hear whispers about the subject. Is he really a point guard? Westbrook, at 6-foot-3, lacked the size of the prototypical shooting guard. A lot of his time during two seasons at UCLA was spent at shooting guard. So has that talk subsided? "No," Westbrook said. "Regardless of what anybody else is saying, I feel good in what I'm doing and my teammates believe in me." Kevin Durant has emerged as an MVP candidate this season, but the play of Westbrook, the second-year point guard, can't be overlooked."

Russell Westbrook is on roll going into tonight's game against Hornets

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March 10

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"Oklahoma City Thunder second-year point guard Russell Westbrook has averaged 20 points and 9.8 assists in the previous 10 games. He will look to continue his surge tonight against the New Orleans Hornets at the Ford Center. Philadelphia 76ers Coach Eddie George could be fired before trhis season ends, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer."

A number change for Russell Westbrook?

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March 8

The Oklahoman

"Russell Westbrook said he would consider changing his jersey number if the No. 4, currently worn by Nick Collison, became available. Westbrook didn't begin wearing No. 0 until he arrived at UCLA, when Arron Afflalo, now with Denver but a junior with the Bruins at the time, had already claimed No. 4. Until then, Westbrook had always worn No. 4 as symbol of the number of people in his immediate family. His jersey at Leuzinger High School was retired last week. "It depends on how I'm feeling," Westbrook said. "As of now I'll stay with zero. I chose this, and it's not a normal number, so I like it." Collison, who has worn the number since his freshman season at Kansas, said he's not attached ..."

Russell Westbrook takes out Kings

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March 8

The Oklahoman

"When Russell Westbrook drove coast-to-coast to convert a lefty layup and draw a foul on Sacramento center Spencer Hawes with 8:33 left to play, the Thunder point guard stared into the stands at Arco Arena and pounded his chest. And, really, by that point, he had every right to. The play symbolized how Westbrook sliced through Sacramento on Sunday, carving up the Kings in the second half to lead the Thunder to a 108-102 win before an announced crowd of 12,081. Westbrook overcame an ugly cut over his right eye in the third quarter when Kings forward Carl Landry raked him across the face with 9:58 remaining in the period. Westbrook was taken to the locker room and received six stitches to ..."

Russell Westbrook a flirt

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February 28

The Oklahoman

"Second-year point guard Russell Westbrook has flirted with a triple-double several times this season but has recorded only one. In Friday's win, Westbrook was two rebounds shy of recording a triple-double, scoring 18 points and matching his career high with 15 assists. "Maybe I need to back off a couple of rebounds, box my guy out and let him get a triple-double," said teammate Kevin Durant. "It's phenomenal to see that every game... He's been flirting with it all year. It's fun to watch. Hopefully these next couple of games he'll get it.""

Russell Westbrook leads the way in win over Minnesota

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February 27

The Oklahoman

"With his first steal, a slashing, sneaky swipe two minutes in, Russell Westbrook had set the tone. But it was the Thunder guard's second pilfer, a pick-pocket four minutes later, which provided the momentum that would put the game away.The Thunder notched a wire-to-wire 109-92 victory over Minnesota on Friday night to snap a two-game losing streak. Oklahoma City reverted to its winning ways by buckling down on the defensive end, and it was Westbrook who captained the charge.With 10:09 left in the first quarter, Westbrook swooped in and stole an outlet pass by Wolves forward Ryan Gomes and converted an uncontested layup to push the Thunder's lead to 6-2. And when the Western ..."

Westbrook leaves Timberwolves Thunder-struck as Oklahoma City rolls

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February 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Russell Westbrook's first season in the NBA was a trial by fire in trying to play a mostly new position at the highest level. And it showed. As the Oklahoma City Thunder go through perhaps the league's most remarkable turnaround this season, none of their players embodies it more than their second-year point guard. Westbrook scored 18 points, matched his franchise record with 15 assists and narrowly missed his second triple-double against the Timberwolves in less than a week as the Thunder cruised to a 109-92 victory Friday night. "He's been like an MVP," said teammate Kevin Durant, who finished with 25 points. "A lot of people talk about me myself, but I think he's been the best player on ..."

Russell Westbrook finishes fourth in skills challenge

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February 14

The Oklahoman

"Thunder guard Russell Westbrook finished a distance fourth in the Skills Challenge Saturday night at American Airlines Center. Westbrook was a last-second entry, replacing defending skills champion Derrick Rose, who withdrew Saturday because of an injury. Phoenix's Steve Nash won the obstacle-course style competition with a time of 29.9 seconds. Westbrook was eliminated in the first of two rounds after clocking 44.1 seconds."

40! Russell Westbrook has a coming-out party in Rookie Challenge like Kevin Durant did last year

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February 13

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant had his coming out party by scoring 46 points last year in the Rookie Challenge in Phoenix. Russell Westbrook, Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, had a similar national TV spotlight moment, scoring 40 points for the sophomores in a 140-128 loss to the rookies Friday night at American Airlines Center. Westbrook drained 18 of 29 shots. Even more impressive, the second-year point guard out of UCLA was 16-of-21 from the field on non 3-pointers. "It was a fun game," Westbrook said. "Unfortunately, they came out with the victory." Consistently scoring in the lane, Westbrook at one point looked he might approach Durant's record. Westbrook had 40 points with seven minutes left ..."

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is something special

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February 12

The Oklahoman

columnist Berry Tramel

"Russell Westbrook no longer is a polarizing figure in Oklahoma City NBA circles. Only dolts still argue what not so long ago was a popular anthem, that Westbrook was masquerading as an NBA point guard. Westbrook has won over nearsighted critics with the league's eighth-best assist total (seventh among point guards). He quarterbacks the NBA's ninth-best team in terms of record and he keeps making plays that approach astonishing. Expect the spectacular tonight in the Rookie Challenge, the NBA's JV all-star game. Westbrook or some of his fellow pro sophomores will use the stage as their coming-out party, ala Carmelo Anthony in 2005 and Kevin Durant in 2009. The Thunder loves it some ..."

Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook named to U.S. national team

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February 11

The Oklahoman

"What once stood as the chink in Kevin Durant's game has now become the characteristic that could help punch the Thunder forward's ticket to the 2012 Olympics. When asked about Durant's projected contributions to the U.S. men's national team, USA and long-time Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski pointed to Durant's potential as a defender. "He's a great player, and he can score the ball," Krzyzewski said Wednesday during a national teleconference. "But his length on the perimeter gives him an opportunity to really defend some people." Durant and teammate Russell Westbrook are among a pool of 27 players USA Basketball pegged for its 2010-2012 national team roster. The players chosen Wednesday will be ..."

Thunder's Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook on U.S. 2010-12 Olympics team roster

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February 10

The Oklahoman

"The players chosen Wednesday will be candidates for this summer's world championships and the 2012 Olympics in London. Also returning from the team that ended the Americans' eight-year gold medal drought in major competitions are: Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. All of the returning players previously told USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo they are interested in coming back after spending all or parts of three years playing for the team that returned the United States to the top of international basketball. James, Wade and Bosh are all questionable to actually play this summer, though. All three can become free agents and have ..."

Westbrook is Player of the Week

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February 9

The Oklahoman

"Point guard Russell Westbrook was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Feb. 1-7. Leading the Thunder to a 3-0 week, Westbrook averaged close to a triple double (19.7 points, 9.7 assists, 8.0 rebounds). He also averaged 3.3 steals. In Saturday's win at Golden State, Westbrook's eight steals matched the league's season high. One of nine second-year players selected to play in Friday night's rookie-sophomore game in Dallas, Westbrook is averaging 16.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and is eighth in the league in assists (7.5). "He has a very competitive streak in him," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "He's a proud athlete. He's only going to continue to get better.""

Westbrook nearly has quadruple-double in win

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February 8

The Oklahoman

"Triple-doubles are special. Quadruple-doubles are rare. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, right, finished Saturday's win over Golden State with 21 points, 10 assists, eight steals and seven rebounds. AP PHOTO Multimedia Photoview all photos NewsOK Related Articles * Thunder notebook: Kevin Durant's streak continues 02/08/2010 Durant's streak continues Midway through the third quarter Saturday night, Kevin Durant had scored "only" 13 points. His streak of... * Thunder pushes win streak to 5 02/08/2010 OAKLAND, Calif. — Super Bowl Sunday provided another opportunity to examine the Thunder's surprising turnaround. The Thunder defeated Golden... * Thunder Insider: ..."

Russell Westbrook keeps Thunder rolling

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February 4

The Oklahoman

"Russell Westbrook needed only a brief moment to reflect on his days at UCLA before feeling good enough to respond to the inquiry. And by the time he cleared his throat, it was clear he wasn't about to admit that former mentor Darren Collison got the best of him during his early days on campus. "I wouldn't say that because I definitely didn't back down," Westbrook said. "But he definitely wasn't an easy task." On Wednesday, 3½ years after their first encounter, the teacher found out just how much the pupil has matured. Westbrook flirted with a triple-double for the second straight night to lead the Thunder to a 103-99 win over the Hornets before an announced crowd of 12,884 at the New ..."

Russell Westbrook nearly has triple-double

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February 3

The Oklahoman

"Saddled with two fouls early in the game, Russell Westbrook sat much of the first quarter. When he returned he was as aggressive as ever. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said it was a positive sign his second-year point guard overcame the early fouls to almost post a triple double in the Thunder's 106-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night at the Ford Center. "He didn't get frustrated," Brooks said. "He came back in and he still was aggressive on both ends. Defensively, he was really active. A lot of times a younger player, when they get the two quick ones, they don't want to get the third one. But he still played good, smart, aggressive basketball." Westbrook finished with 12 points, nine ..."

James Harden, Russell Westbrook looking forward to trash talk in Rookie-Sophomore game

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January 28

The Oklahoman

"James Harden, one of nine rookies selected for the Rookie-Sophomore Game Feb. 12 in Dallas, will be playing against Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook, one of nine second-year players selected. "Talking trash, just having fun and competing, that's what brings us closer (as a team)," Harden said, smiling. "(The rookies) will definitely win." It's not a Joe Namath Super Bowl III-like upset prediction. But the sophomores have won seven consecutive games. Kevin Durant scored 46 points to lead the sophomores to a 122-116 win last year in Phoenix."

Oklahoma City's Westbrook, Harden named to NBA Rookie Challenge

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January 27

The Oklahoman

"Oklahoma City teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden will face each other in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Feb. 12 in Dallas during NBA All-Star 2010. The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. Westbrook joins 2009 Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose of Chicago on the Sophomore team. Other players on that team are Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Kevin Love, New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez, New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari and a pair of teammates from the Memphis ..."

Russell Westbrook donates $1,000 per point to Haiti relief

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January 23

The Oklahoman

"For every point Russell Westbrook scored Friday night at Memphis, $1,000 went to the Haiti relief fund. Westbrook finished with eight points, meaning he will contribute $8,000 to the relief efforts. Westbrook's contribution was part of sports agency Wasserman Media Group's attempt to raise and donate at least $500,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF). Former President Bill Clinton announced the program during halftime of Friday's ESPN's broadcast of the Lakers-Knicks game.The Wasserman Media Group's 47 NBA players donated either personal contributions or a designated sum per point they scored. Thunder center Etan Thomas, who is also represented by Wasserman Media Group, did not play ..."

Sky's the limit for Russell Westbrook

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January 13

The Oklahoman

"San Antonio's daring decision dredged up doubt eight years ago, when the Spurs confronted questions much like the Thunder encountered last season.Was Parker ready to lead a team? Was the 19-year-old Frenchman mature enough? Was his outside shooting reliable enough?As he leads his Spurs into the Ford Center tonight to face the Thunder, Parker has blossomed into walking proof of how much it can pay to stick with a developing young point guard. Parker, now 27, earned the 2007 NBA Finals MVP award. Last season, Parker averaged 22 points and 6.9 assists, both career highs.Westbrook, meanwhile, is mounting evidence that his ceiling might be even higher. The most scrutinized player on the ..."

Thunder's Russell Westbrook on a roll

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January 5

The Oklahoman

"The light came on for Russell Westbrook during the national anthem. At that moment, as the Thunder's point guard stood alongside teammates during the bold, bass-filled rendition, he told himself Monday night's game would be different. Westbrook wanted to revert to his strength, better yet to what he does best — applying pressure with aggressive attacks to the rim. "I wanted to start the game off that way," Westbrook said. "In other games, I've been settling for jump shots, and there was no reason for me to do that." Welcome back, Mr. Westbrook. Behind Westbrook's game-high 29 points, the Thunder cruised to a 98-85 win over Chicago at United Center, snapping the Bulls' four-game winning ..."

Russell Westbrook leads Oklahoma City Thunder past Charlotte Bobcats

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December 27

The Oklahoman

"Russell Westbrook turned the Ford Center into his playground Saturday night. He was the schoolyard bully, and Raymond Felton was his prey, the untimely lad who came along as Westbrook looked for lunch money. Westbrook took everything he wanted, scoring 22 points with six assists and five rebounds to lead the Thunder to a 98-91 win over Charlotte in a game that flaunted the second-year guard's silent yet strong resurgence following a recent slump. "He comes to play every day," said Kevin Durant, who scored a game-high 30 points with six rebounds and four assists. "He wants to do so well and he plays so hard. Now you're starting to see the hard work that he put in this summer paying off for ..."

Westbrook the defender?

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November 30

The Oklahoman

"The latest and most effective in-game strategy employed by Thunder coach Scott Brooks has served as a reminder of something everyone seems to have lost sight of. The biggest question on Russell Westbrook isn't whether he's a point guard, it's whether he's still on track to becoming the stalwart defender the organization thought it drafted in 2008. Remember how the Thunder touted Westbrook's defensive skills after selecting him fourth overall? "He's got a real focus on the defensive end, and that's not an easy thing to find," said general manager Sam Presti. "He has that mentality, and he enjoys digging in and doing the little things that really contribute to winning." Somehow, the focus ..."

Russell Westbrook showing defensive skills

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November 29

The Oklahoman

"Much like Thabo Sefolosha's stat lines never tell the entire story, Russell Westbrook had a solid all-around game in Friday's win. Westbrook scored 20 points with seven assists but also helped limit Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings to 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. "He did a phenomenal job on Jennings," said Kevin Durant. "There were a couple of times he beat him off the dribble to the middle and Russell did a great job recovering and blocked shots. That's what we need from him every night. He had a great game." OLLIE ON WILKS Kevin Ollie and Mike Wilks have the same agent and same accountants. Ollie said Wilks, a 30-year-old veteran who was signed Wednesday, can fill a void left by a sudden ..."

Wizards run hot and cold in defeat

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November 21

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards may have all their pieces back after an injury-plagued first two weeks of the season, but they're far from a well-oiled machine. And Friday night, tipping off a two-game road trip, the Wizards put on a sputtering performance and fell 127-108 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City's 127 points were the most the Wizards have given up all season, topping their previous high by 21. "Where we're at as a team, we have not evolved to be a team and grasp everything," a frustrated Flip Saunders said after his team's sixth double-digit loss of the season. "We came out of training camp and thought we'd be a poor rebounding team, so we worked extremely hard and have become ..."

Thunder top Heat, 100-87

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November 18

Miami Herald

"Through nine games this season, the Heat found a way to become one of the league's biggest surprises thanks to consistent defense, a stunning superstar and a more productive supporting cast. No one ever called the Heat physically intimidating, however. The Oklahoma City Thunder can be exactly that. With 6-11 Kevin Durant leading a long, athletic and talented group, the Thunder dismantled the Heat 100-87 on Tuesday in a relatively empty AmericanAirlines Arena. ``They came in and set the tone right from the top of the game and they outplayed us with their athleticism, with their length, with their energy,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ``We never could put together sustained, long moments ..."

Russell Westbrook responds

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November 15

The Oklahoman

"Coming off one of the worst games of his young career, Russell Westbrook responded with one of his best (19 points, 11 assists, 0 turnovers). "It's going to be an ongoing process," said coach Scott Brooks. "Russell is not at the level that he's going to be. But he works at it. He wants to get better. He's not going to play perfect basketball." FOUR IN FIVE NIGHTS The Thunder Saturday night started one of its most demanding stretches all season, playing four games in five nights in four cities. Three of the four are on the road. "The key is to bring the energy every night," Brooks said. "You can't pick and choose your game, thinking 'This is a good team (so bring more energy).' You have to ..."

Durant, Green, Westbrook represent OKC on NBA All-Star ballot

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November 10

The Oklahoman

"Oklahoma City teammates Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook are on the 2010 NBA All-Star ballot, which was released by the league Tuesday. This marks the first time Green and Westbrook made the All-Star ballot. Durant was on the ballot last year, along with Thunder teammates Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox. The NBA All-Star game will be played Sunday, Feb. 14 in Arlington, Texas. Fans can cast votes at each NBA arena, on NBA.com and through mobile phones by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA"), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. Paper balloting will continue through Jan. 10, while wireless balloting and voting on NBA.com will ..."

Russell Westbrook mixing scoring with passing

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November 9

The Oklahoman

"Russell Westbrook entered Sunday's game against Orlando coming off a season-high 33 points at Houston. His point total was one shy of his career high and his 25 shot attempts were 13 more than his average through the first four games. Westbrook's priority had previously been to set up his teammates and control the pace of the game. But Westbrook's aggressiveness at Houston signaled the balancing act the second-year point guard is trying to master between looking for his own offense and getting others involved. "He has to continue to work on that," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "It's a fine line, but it's an important line for him to push at all times. He has to attack. We don't want him ..."

Russell Westbrook gets an 'A' for assists in Thunder win

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October 29

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant said he knew this summer that Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook was primed for a special season. "At those USA trials (for young rising players), that's when he showed he could really play point guard," Durant said. "I knew back then in (Las) Vegas it was going to be a good year for him." After playing well in preseason, Westbrook dished out a career-high 13 assists in the Thunder's season opening 102-89 win over Sacramento in the Ford Center. "His performance was unbelievable, probably the best game I've ever seen him play," Durant said. "He handled the team so well. Even though he didn't take as many shots as he normally does, he got some open shots because he got us the ..."

Subtle wrinkle demonstrates Russell Westbrook's improvement

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October 27

The Oklahoman

"The Thunder has yet to play a regular season game. But Russell Westbrook quickly established himself throughout training camp and the preseason as perhaps the most improved player on the roster. His improvement has been quantifiable, as seen in his increased assists and decreased turnovers, and unquantifiable, displayed in his patience and confidence on the court. But one small development in his game has stood out and could have a major impact on the Thunder this season. Westbrook is now coming to get the ball following defensive rebounds rather than relying on a risky outlet pass in traffic. It's a small quirk Westbrook didn't exhibit last season but one that could cut down on turnovers ..."

Continued growth: Thunder guard Russell Westbrook just misses posting a triple-double

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October 13

The Oklahoman

"Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, center, drives to the basket past Phoenix's Grant Hill, left, during preseason action at the Ford Center on Monday. Westbrook was one assist away from a triple-double. In the Thunder's 110-105 overtime win over Phoenix, the second-year point guard displayed to his home fans the continued development he's shown throughout this preseason.Westbrook scored 10 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished nine assists in 26 minutes. He again played with confidence and control, showing complete command of the offense and newfound patience that he lacked last season. Westbrook made five of eight shots, turned the ball over just three times and came away with two ..."

Russell Westbrook shows his maturity in OKC Thunder's loss to Memphis Grizzlies

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October 8

The Oklahoman

"About 90 minutes before tip-off, a smile grew wider and wider on Russell Westbrook's face the more he thought about the difference between Wednesday night and the first time he sat inside the visitor's locker room at FedEx Forum. His memories of Nov. 29, 2008, are vivid. It was a Saturday night. Newly named interim coach Scott Brooks had just told him he would be starting his first career game, against the Memphis Grizzlies. And that's when the knots started forming in the pit of his stomach. "Oh it's a whole lot different," Westbrook said of his nerves just before the Thunder opened its preseason schedule. "I'm so chill now. I'm so calm and cool." Westbrook then went out and proved it, ..."

Thunder Summer League Notebook: Westbrook's highlight reel

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July 9

The Oklahoman

"Westbrook's highlight reel dunk Russell Westbrook's smile was blinding as he broke down the highlight of Oklahoma City's 94-82 win over the Boston Celtics in Day 3 of the Orlando Pro Summer League. It was the middle of the second quarter, Westbrook was already loose thanks to a handful of steals and drives to the bucket, and the game was already heavy on breakdowns in transition. Boston Celtics third-year guard Gabe Pruitt, trying to break into Doc Rivers' rotation behind Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Eddie House, moved over in front of Westbrook and tried to stop his forward momentum. That's where things got hazy. Westbrook lost Pruitt with a move so quick that it was actually difficult to ..."

Emerging face of a franchise

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June 30

The Oklahoman

columnist Jenni Carlson

"Russell Westbrook spent Sunday night walking the red carpet, mugging for cameras and hanging with celebrities. He was among the lucky few with an invite to the BET Awards. Like most star-studded events in Hollywood, it was a tough ticket to come by, but the Thunder point guard scored one.What a difference a year makes.The last week of June 2008, Westbrook was a head-scratching, top-five pick in the NBA Draft, but the last week of June 2009, he is an emerging face of a franchise and a rising luminary in the league. Just think about what Westbrook has done this past week. He not only attended the BET Awards but also appeared on "Rome is Burning" and altered the future direction of his team. ..."