Untitled Page

Russell Westbrook News & Rumors

Russell Westbrook becomes latest point guard to burn Utah Jazz
February 11
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook joined a growing fraternity Friday night. Westbrook scored 28 points during the Thunder's 101-87 victory over the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Westbrook became the ninth opposing point guard in 25 games this season — and the third in a row — to lead his team in scoring against Utah. On Monday, rookie Jeremy Lin scored 28 points in New York's 99-88 victory. On Tuesday, Darren Collison finished with 25 during Indiana's 104-88 win. In this game, Westbrook scored 15 points in the first half as the Thunder handed the Jazz their third straight defeat. Lin, Collison and Westbrook made 30 of their 51 shots against the Utah defense. "I think, right now, it's a"
Russell Westbrook named NBA All-Star reserve
February 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, reserves for this year's NBA All-Star Game were revealed. Roughly 2½ hours later, though their emotions no doubt were headed in opposite directions, Thunder guards Russell Westbrook and James Harden insisted they were thinking solely about the game they were about to play against the Sacramento Kings at Power Balance Pavilion. For the second straight season, Westbrook will join teammate Kevin Durant on the Western Conference roster. Harden, however, did not receive enough votes from Western coaches to earn one of his conference's seven reserve spots. "He's played All-Star level basketball, so he's an All-Star in my eyes," OKC coach Scott Brooks said. Brooks"
Russell Westbrook looks like he's worth every penny
January 24
The Oklahoman
 columnist Jenni Carlson
"If this is how Russell Westbrook is going to play with a new contract, the Thunder might've wanted to get that deal done a few weeks ago. He was as good as he has been all season Monday. The Thunder point guard had his way with the lowly Pistons in a 99-79 blowout. He created good looks. He made pretty passes. He snagged big rebounds. He played stifling defense. He made great decisions. He played like a guy motivated to prove that he's worth every penny of his new five-year, $80 million deal. You can't always say that about players who get fat paydays."
Russell Westbrook signing proves Thunder owners are willing to spend
January 23
The Oklahoman
 
"Sam Presti spoke at length Sunday about his chief goal as the general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's one that hasn't changed in the franchise's four years of existence. At a press conference announcing guard Russell Westbrook's contract extension, however, Presti offered a reminder that his main mission has been to build a team that, above all, has long term sustainability. "Nothing really changes in terms of what our vision for this organization is," Presti said. "This is just another step in that direction.""
Russell Westbrook's winning ways, resiliency when he's not winning, impressed OKC
January 23
The Oklahoman
 
"As he addressed roughly 400 people on Sunday afternoon at his team's old practice facility, Thunder general manager Sam Presti attempted to identify Russell Westbrook's biggest attribute as a player. "I think it's safe to say he impacts winning," said Presti, who mentioned Westbrook's back-to-back Final Four appearances in his two seasons at UCLA, which were followed by winning a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and OKC advancing to the Western Conference Finals — all in a span of just five years and before the age of 23."
Kevin Durant, Scott Brooks happy to have Russell Westbrook locked up
January 22
The Oklahoman
 
"Kevin Durant on Saturday said Russell Westbrook deserves the maximum five-year contract that will pay him approximately $80 million. It's a contract that will keep Westbrook in a Thunder uniform through the 2016-17 season and teammates with Durant through at least 2015-16. "I'm excited for Russell. He's worked so hard," Durant said. "A lot of people wrote him off. When we drafted him, people kind of didn't know what was going on. We took him fourth. But he's matured into a top five point guard in this league; top 10 player in this league, I think. The stuff he's doing is kind of unreal. If you've looked at the games he's played, some of his best games are like video game numbers." Durant"
Russell Westbrook's contract extension will keep Thunder among NBA elite
January 20
The Oklahoman
 
"They call Russell Westbrook a shoot-first point guard. Wrong description. Westbrook is a shoot-lots point guard — 17.3 shots a game, eighth-most in the NBA. Only Kobe Bryant shoots more among guards. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Westbrook is making 45.3 percent of his shots and in the league's top 20 for foul shots made per game. You won't hear me squawking for Westbrook to pass the ball. But he does, frequently. Westbrook likes to pass. He tries some goofy decisions, but he makes a ton of great passes, too. A total mystery is how the world came to see Westbrook as selfish. Watch the games, please. And more evidence arrived Wednesday, a banner day in Boomtown, when Westbrook"
Russell Westbrook agrees to 5-year contract extension with Oklahoma City Thunder
January 20
The Oklahoman
 
"Outside of his family, Russell Westbrook probably can count on one hand those who believed in him. There was Reggie Hamilton, the man who gave Westbrook his first shot at organized basketball back in Los Angeles-area pee-wee leagues. There was Reggie Morris, the former coach at Leuzinger High, Westbrook's alma mater. There was UCLA coach Ben Howland — barely. Then, along came a start-up professional basketball franchise called the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team employed decision-makers named Sam Presti and Troy Weaver and Scott Brooks. Collectively, they decided to use the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft to select Westbrook. Suddenly, Westbrook needed more fingers. Because of"
Russell Westbrook agrees to 5-year contract extension with Oklahoma City Thunder
January 19
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook has been locked up. The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed its All-Star point guard to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday. Details of the deal were not released, per team policy. But according to Yahoo! Sports, which first reported the deal, Westbrook will earn $80 million over five years, the maximum number of years for which he could have re-signed. The deal, which will go into effect next season, would keep Westbrook in Oklahoma City through the 2016-17 season."
Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha, Russell Westbrook 3s lead way past Celtics
January 17
The Oklahoman
 
"Thabo Sefolosha caught the ball on the left wing with nine seconds showing on the shot clock. His Oklahoma City Thunder teammates, needing to nurse a tenuous seven-point lead in the final minute, had just spent the previous 15 seconds scrambling to milk every millisecond possible. But when Sefolosha hauled in a bullet pass from Kevin Durant on a drive and kick, he immediately let it fly. It probably wasn't the greatest decision. It didn't matter. Dagger. Sefolosha's surprising 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to play put the Thunder ahead by 10 and sealed Oklahoma City's 97-88 victory over Boston on Monday night inside TD Garden."
Thunder fans give Russell Wesbrook a hand — and he answers back
December 30
The Oklahoman
 
"Don't go calling this Thunder season "special," yet. Even after Kevin Durant's buzzer-beater from somewhere near the Oklahoma River gave the Thunder a 104-102 victory over Dallas, coach Scott Brooks cautioned against it in his postgame news conference. So I'll abide by his wishes for at least a couple more games. But feel free to pick your own superlative about what happened at the Peake Thursday night in the fourth quarter. Brooks certainly did. And no, I'm not just talking about, "The Shot." I'm talking about the chant. Maybe you've heard about Russell Westbrook's struggles in Memphis, his 0-for-13 shooting and a commotion on the sideline during the game. By now this town's captivation"
Russell Westbrook struggles after altercation with Kevin Durant
December 29
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook let his emotions get the best of him Wednesday night, and it led to an altercation with Kevin Durant on the bench during a second-quarter timeout. Westbrook never recovered and finished with arguably the worst performance of his career, scoring just four points on 0-for-13 shooting with six assists, three rebounds and four turnovers. Westbrook's frustration appeared to have started with just 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter when he drove into the paint and kicked the ball out to Thabo Sefolosha in the corner. Sefolosha passed up a wide open 3-pointer, which prompted Westbrook to yell at Sefolosha "shoot the (expletive) ball." Sefolosha and other teammates,"
How Russell Westbrook shrunk OKC's timeline
December 18
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook refused to take the credit. But the facts are undeniable. As soon as Westbrook arrived, he immediately shrunk the development time of a rebuilding Thunder franchise. Before he was taken fourth overall in the 2008 draft, the Thunder was stuck in no man's land, a 23-win outfit that had no true escape route. Then, just like that, the franchise hit the jackpot. A once unheralded and underappreciated guard out of UCLA became the backbone of the Thunder's transformation. "I don't think it was just me," Westbrook said. "I just think I just came in and tried to help the team…I just tried to come in and tried to improve us, whether it was defensively, offensively, leadership or"
No new contract for Westbrook, no worries either
December 14
The Oklahoman
 
"Sam Presti and lieutenant Troy Weaver knocked on Kevin Durant's door at 11:01 p.m. June 30, 2010. They had a deal done by 11:02. Now, the next Thunder superstar is up for a contract extension, and there will be no doorstep deal for Russell Westbrook. Don't blame Presti and don't blame Westbrook. Blame circumstances. The NBA lockout, ended by a sudden labor agreement over Thanksgiving weekend, has created a shotgun start to not just training camp or the season, but contract negotiations. What usually is accomplished gradually over months now is being shoe-horned into a couple of weeks. The season starts in 11 days, and the Hornets, for example, have seven ballplayers on their roster, not"
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continue strong relationship
December 14
The Oklahoman
 
"Was there tension? Sure, at times. Is there a feud? Far from it. That's how Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, as well as those closest to the Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star duo, described their relationship, past and present, at the team's media day Tuesday. "People got to understand that guys are not going to agree on every single thing that goes on in a long season," said Durant. "Guys are going to have heated arguments. But at the same time, we understand each other. We just want the best for each other. I got his back 100 percent. He's got my back 100 percent on that floor." And off it? "Me and Kevin are very close," said Westbrook."
Russell Westbrook's paycheck might mirror his development as a player
December 8
The Oklahoman
 
"Sam Presti on Wednesday weighed in on a topic that remains a debate around only a few office water coolers. Where does Russell Westbrook rank among the NBA's best point guards? "He's among the top tier of guys," said Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder general manager. "No question about it." The question is will Westbrook now be paid like it. Teams will be permitted to begin signing free agents and making trades on Friday afternoon, according to reports. With Westbrook now entering his fourth season, he is currently eligible to receive a contract extension."
Sam Presti begins talks with Russell Westbrook's agent
December 1
The Oklahoman
 
"On the first day that NBA front office executives were allowed to resume communication with player agents, Thunder general manager Sam Presti began preliminary discussions with Russell Westbrook's agents on a contact extension. Westbrook is now eligible to receive an extension to his rookie scale contract after playing three seasons. A potential deal cannot be signed until Dec. 9, when the free-agent signing period officially begins. But a new deal would not take effect until the 2012-13 season. "We made calls to all kinds of (representatives of) free agents, as well as our own players to touch base and talk about whatever issues we need to cover with each player respectively," Presti said"
Russell Westbrook's contract questions focus on how much and how long
November 27
The Oklahoman
 
"The last time we saw Russell Westbrook, he was standing almost front and center at the final National Basketball Players Association news conference. Sporting a red hooded sweatshirt with a black backpack strapped to his shoulders, the Oklahoma City Thunder's point guard, at times, appeared solemn and slightly confused as he flanked union chief Billy Hunter while he delivered the news that would further delay Westbrook's long-term security. The next time we see Westbrook, he could be just days away from finally being signing a long-term deal that secures him as the Thunder's second significant linchpin. With the NBA lockout set to be lifted, and the league now just days away from ratifying"
Sources: NBA stars plan exhibition tour
October 19
ESPN.com
 
"While NBA commissioner David Stern and players' union executive Billy Hunter meet with a federal mediator in hopes of saving the NBA season, the league's top players are finalizing plans for a two-week exhibition tour during what would have been the first two weeks of the regular season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. While the final details are still being worked out, more than a dozen of the league's best players are working to join forces on what would be a two-week, six-game, four-continent blockbuster tour, sources said. In a trip that could resemble Team USA's takeover of the world stage at the 2008 Beijing Games, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick"
Durant gives Westbrook vote of confidence
September 25
Yahoo! Sports
 
"For all the talk about Kevin Durant(notes) and Russell Westbrook(notes) not getting along, at times, during the playoffs last season, Durant denies there's a rift between the Oklahoma City Thunder's two stars. And he wants to make sure Westbrook stays in OKC. "We butt heads just like any other players because we are both competitive, we both want to go at it, we both have ideas," Durant said in a phone interview with Yahoo! Sports on Saturday while on the movie set of his upcoming Warner Bros. film, "Switch." "That's going to happen. But I support him 100 percent. Of course, I hated when people were saying the stuff they were saying, and he hated it as well. I didn't want it to get to his"
Out-of-work NBA players back in college
August 10
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Marc J. Spears
"In recent years, Kenny Donaldson gently reminded some of UCLA's former basketball stars that he could help them return to school to finish their degrees. As UCLA's athletics assistant director of academic services, Donaldson hoped that any former Bruins who had left school early to play in the NBA would eventually find their way back to campus and work toward graduating. Thanks, in part, to the NBA lockout, Donaldson's had a handful of players take him up on his offer this summer. UCLA's American Popular Culture class now has four out-of-work NBA players – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, New Orleans Hornets forward Trevor Ariza and"
Westbrook shrugs off criticism
July 21
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Marc J. Spears
"Russell Westbrook shot too much and didn't pass enough during the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff run. At least, that's what his critics said. Westbrook didn't exactly agree with them. Westbrook also argued with his coach, Scott Brooks, and his star teammate, Kevin Durant, on the court, leading to speculation that he was feuding with both. And when the Thunder were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks, Westbrook shouldered most of the blame. In the two months since, Westbrook hasn't lost much sleep worrying about the criticism. "I refuse to let myself do that," Westbrook told Yahoo! Sports. "I've been working too hard to get to the position we were in last season to worry about anything"
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden to play exhibition in Philippines
July 16
The Oklahoman
 
"According to several reports, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, along with reserve guard James Harden, are headed to the Phillipines next week for a couple of exhibition games. According to reports from InterAksyon.com and SLAM.com, the Thunder trio will reportedly be joined by Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and New Orleans guard Chris Paul. The exhibition games will be played in Manila. The NBA stars will play against the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team and an all-star squad from the Philippine Basketball Association. Proceeds from the games will go to the MVP Sports Foundation, whose goal is to uplift Philippine sports and to develop Filipino"
Thunder draft pick Reggie Jackson might be Russell Westbrook 2.0
June 27
The Oklahoman
 
"Reggie Jackson might be better than you think, as a player and as a fit on the Thunder. Four days after he became the newest cog in Oklahoma City, Jackson's selection still seems to be somewhat of a mystery to many. But now that the dust has settled on the NBA Draft and the initial draft grades that feed our insatiable appetite for immediate gratification have been given, it's time to really examine exactly what the Oklahoma City Thunder landed with the 24th overall pick last week. We might find the answer to be Russell Westbrook 2.0. That very well could be Jackson's ceiling. Last Thursday night, however, Jackson's surprising selection sparked so much confusion that it clouded most of our"
Criticism of Russell Westbrook taught Thunder a lesson
June 6
The Oklahoman
 
"If he was aggressive, critics said he was shooting too much. If he fell back and played more like a playmaker, they said he was too passive and was hurting his team. Russell Westbrook couldn't win during the Thunder's postseason run, even while his team was winning plenty. Everything, from the point guard's body language on the bench to how he handled the team's final defeat of the season, was overanalyzed. "It's kind of crazy how the last two series happened with all the stuff he had to go through," said forward Nick Collison. "It kind of hit everybody by surprise because, for us, it didn't seem like anything was different. We love Russell, and we love what he brings. And we realize"
Russell Westbrook draws unfair scrutiny
May 27
The Oklahoman
 columnist Jenni Carlson
"Another day, another round of criticism for Russell Westbrook. Shocking, I know. The latest scuttlebutt surrounding the Thunder point guard involves what he supposedly didn't do after Game 5. He didn't shake hands with the Mavs after they clinched the Western Conference Finals. He didn't stay on the court to exchange pleasantries. He didn't go to the postgame interview room. Really? This is what fires up some people? This is getting out of hand. Listen, I'm all for putting blame where blame is due, especially when it involves athletes who make millions of dollars a year. I've even called out Westbrook during these playoffs for some poor decisions. But this blog-based brouhaha about"
Thunder vet: Westbrook thinks he's better than KD
May 23
CBSSports.com
 
"Did you think maybe we were finally done talking about Russell Westbrook? You'd be wrong. Westbrook responded well to his so-called "benching" in Game 3, putting up 30 points for Oklahoma City that included eight straight points in the fourth quarter to get the Thunder back in the game. In the end, they lost to the Mavericks, but Westbrook bounced back strong. Controvsery over? Hardly. Via the New York Daily News, one Thunder veteran says that Westbrook has an ego and that's what's interfered: What undoubtedly fueled Westbrook's fiery response is a sense of entitlement. As one Thunder veteran said, privately, "He thinks he's better than Kevin Durant." Not only that, but Westbrook has the"
Russell Westbrook is the reason Thunder still has hope
May 22
The Oklahoman
 columnist Jenni Carlson
"The criticism of Russell Westbrook is sure to return. For one night, he silenced the critics and the haters that dominated the past couple days, but the Thunder point guard is sure to do something or not do something at some point in the next couple games that will have folks yammering again. But when that happens, remember this — Westbrook is the reason that Oklahoma City has a chance to come back and win the Western Conference Finals. Sure, things look gloomy after a scintillating Saturday at the Oklahoma City Arena turned sour. Mavs 93, Thunder 87. But if you're seeking hope after Dallas took a 2-1 lead in the series and stole back that road game Oklahoma City snagged two nights ago,"
Rose's advice to Westbrook: Just keep playing
May 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"In between watching "Saved by the Bell'' reruns on his day off, Derrick Rose caught a glimpse of his friend Russell Westbrook's benching during the Thunder's Game 2 victory in Dallas. Rose last heard from Westbrook, his offseason workout partner in Los Angeles, when Westbrook sent a text message congratulating Rose on being named MVP. "My advice to Russell would be to just keep playing,'' Rose said Friday. "Russ is a unique talent, a good guy and a hard worker. If anything, I think they'll find their way.'' Thunder coach Scott Brooks stuck with backup point guard Eric Maynor for the entire fourth quarter after Westbrook struggled in the third. Cameras caught Westbrook voicing his"
Brooks makes point by benching Westbrook
May 20
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Russell Westbrook walked off the court, and Scottie Brooks was waiting with a few words. Westbrook barked back at his coach. For a moment, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked ready to crack. Already down one game to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals, they'd given up another lead near the end of the third quarter. Westbrook took his seat on the bench, barked some more, and weren't these young Thunder finally showing their immaturity? "Just sitting there, waiting to get my name called," Westbrook would later say. He's still waiting. Brooks never went back to Westbrook, and this says something about how much not only the Thunder, but also their coach, have grown. They beat"
Analysts debate on benching of Russell Westbrook
May 20
The Oklahoman
 
"Credit ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy for alerting viewers to the benching of Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook at the end of the third quarter, noting the tense exchange between coach Scott Brooks and Westbrook as he left the court. "He (Brooks) told him to pass the ball, and Westbrook didn't respond," Van Gundy said. "This happened at the end of the second quarter as well. He has to be open to the fact at the end of the quarter he has to make better plays." The ESPN game analysts then spent much of the fourth quarter debating whether Westbrook should re-enter the game. Mark Jackson said he would have gone back to Westbrook midway through the fourth quarter for more shooting and"
Staying with Kevin Durant and the B team produces a landmark OKC victory and Scott Brooks' finest coaching hour
May 20
The Oklahoman
 
"Everyone in American Airlines Center kept looking over at the scorer's table in the fourth quarter. Time kept ticking. Nine minutes left, six minutes, three minutes left. The Thunder clung to a lead that wavered between tense and perilous, and eyes kept drifting to that table. Surely Russell Westbrook would return. Surely he would bring some fellow starters with him. But Scotty Brooks never pulled the trigger. And it earned him the Thunder's biggest win ever. The Thunder stunned the high-riding Dallas Mavericks 106-100 Thursday night to even the Western Conference Finals at one game apiece. And the Thunder did it with Kevin Durant and the B team. Durant, Eric Maynor, James Harden, Nick"
Coaches calm down Russell Westbrook
May 20
The Oklahoman
 
"Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had an animated reaction when pulled from Game 2 with :28 remaining in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Westbrook did not play again and the reserve Eric Maynor finished out the Thunder's 106-100 victory inside American Airlines Center. Westbrook initially had an exchange with assistant coach Mark Bryant and fellow assistant Maurice Cheeks came over and had a heart-to-heart with the All-Star reserve. Thunder center Kendrick Perkins also took the 22-year-old Westbrook aside during the game and shared some encouragement. "I had to let him know we're winning, everything's going good," Perkins said. "I think"
Westbrook sits, and a faceless coach stands
May 20
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"Scott Brooks gambled, and he won. Both a game and his locker room. Brooks benched his second-best player who sometimes acts like he's his best. Brooks benched Russell Westbrook, going with Kevin Durant and four backups through the fourth quarter. That's how Brooks changed more than a series. Before Thursday, the coaching matchup in these Western Conference finals was between smart yet faceless men who had been fringe players. Replacing Phil Jackson, who began his coaching career with the minor-league Albany Patroons, Brooks and Rick Carlisle played for the Patroons. They shared a few stories from their time together then, and Brooks playfully offered this critique of Carlisle:"
OKC Thunder's Russell Westbrook 'good' with fourth-quarter benching
May 20
The Oklahoman
 
"At crunch time in Game 1 on Tuesday night, Russell Westbrook was missing shots. At crunch time in Game 2 on Thursday night, he was missing in action. Despite logging 0:00 in the final quarter, Westbrook insisted he couldn't have been happier after the Oklahoma City Thunder captured home-court advantage with a 106-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks before a hushed sellout crowd of 21,051 inside the American Airlines Center. "When we're winning, I'm good," Westbrook said. Usually when Westbrook sits the entire fourth quarter, the Thunder is in the middle of a blowout. On this night, the circumstances were vastly different. OKC led 77-76 after the third period in the Western Conference"
How the Mavs plan to stop Russell Westbrook: he's getting the Kobe treatment
May 17
Dallas Morning News
 
"Russell Westbrook, who a week ago was getting it from all sides in Thunder Nation, is about to get the ultimate compliment. He's going to get the Kobe Bryant treatment. Jason Kidd will not get the first crack at the Thunder's blistering point guard. Instead, look for DeShawn Stevenson to start on Westbrook in Game 1 Tuesday night. But Westbrook, whose star is rising after outsider opinions were aired last series that he and Kevin Durant are incompatible, should know that Kidd will be waiting. And he'll bring a healthy dose of respect with him. "If he gets a rebound or outlet pass, he puts a lot of pressure on, no matter if there's one, two or three guys back on defense," Kidd said. "He has"
Larry Bird, Jerry West, James Worthy, Scottie Pippen — and Russell Westbrook
May 16
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook chose the wrong time to make a fashion statement. The big ol', Steve Urkel-like set of bifocals he wore into his postgame press conference couldn't have been more out of place. Because the Thunder's often picked apart point guard proved in the biggest game of his life that on the court he has 20/20 vision. Westbrook was the offensive catalyst for the Thunder's series-clinching 105-90 Game 7 win over Memphis on Sunday. The Thunder is now moving on to face the Dallas Mavericks in its first-ever Western Conference Finals because Westbrook's floor leadership was too much for the Grizzlies to handle. Westbrook's final line: 14 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists. He had one"
Grizzlies' Tony Allen draws tough task of stopping Russell Westbrook
May 13
The Oklahoman
 
"The latest wrinkle in this superb Thunder-Grizzlies series involves a scheme to stop Russell Westbrook. Memphis, keeping consistent with its tendency to throw the kitchen sink at Oklahoma City, has unleashed bulldog defender Tony Allen on the Thunder's All-Star point guard. The Grizzlies unveiled their latest strategy from the opening tip of Game 5. Only the Thunder made such quick work of the Grizzlies — turning a first-quarter stalemate into a second-quarter breeze and, eventually, a second-half rout — that Memphis' modification never had much of a chance to make an impact. But don't be surprised if the Grizzlies, now facing elimination, stick to the same strategy in Friday night's Game"
OKC Thunder's Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook named to All-NBA teams
May 13
The Oklahoman
 
"According to the folks that cover the NBA, two of the Top 10 players in the NBA play right here in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were named to All-NBA teams on Thursday. Durant, the league's leading scorer, was named to the All-NBA first team. It was Durant's second first-team selection in as many years. He average 27.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game this year. Durant scored at least 40 points in a league-high five games. Durant was joined on the first team by Chicago's Derrick Rose, Miami's Lebron James, Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Orlando's Dwight Howard. Westbrook was named to the All-NBA second team. He was joined"
Grizzlies don't have answer for Russell Westbrook
May 11
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook took 33 shots Monday night in the Memphis Marathon. Kevin Durant took 20. You know what that means. Here we go again. Why does Westbrook shoot so much? Why does he crave the spotlight? Why does he feel like he has to be the man? Crazed fans, we can forgive. But NBA veterans, from the likes of Chuck Barkley and Kenny Smith and Mike Fratello? Busting Westbrook even after he was the central hero in one of the most thrilling games in NBA history? Wondering why Durant wasn't getting more shots than was his point guard. Are they not watching the games? To quote Strother Martin in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "Morons. I've got morons on my team." The Thunder has"
Thunder ties series with Grizzlies with triple-overtime thriller
May 10
The Oklahoman
 
"Kevin Durant was as focused as he's ever been before a game. Answers during his customary pre-game chat with the media shrunk shorter. A slight attitude had replaced Durant's inviting and personable personality. The magnitude of the moment had become a reality. "This is a must-win," Durant said. Four hours and three overtimes later, Durant and his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates more than earned it. Durant scored 35 points to lead the Thunder past the Memphis Grizzlies in a hard-fought 133-123 triple overtime thriller inside the FedExForum in Game 4. The win evened the series at two games apiece as the best-of-7 series now shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. Though it took much longer"
Russell Westbrook superb in Thunder's Game 2 win
May 4
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook committed a turnover, then clunked a jumper, and the Oklahoma City Arena crowd grew restless only a couple minutes into Tuesday's game. Not this. Not when the Thunder needed its point guard. On a night when Oklahoma City's postseason hopes hung in the balance, Westbrook came up big. Those anxious early minutes became a distant memory by the final minutes of this playoff game. Thunder 111, Grizzlies 102. Westbrook was superb. He scored 24 points, dished out six assists and played the type of controlled yet dynamic game that his team needed from him. What's more, the NBA's most overanalyzed point guard wasn't the only Thunder point guard to have a big night. Eric Maynor"
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook stick together
April 27
The Oklahoman
 
"The cameras didn't catch it, but the broadcast's sideline reporter did. Midway through the first half of Monday's Game 4 loss at Denver, the Thunder's All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook reportedly had a heated exchange during a timeout. TNT sideline reporter Pam Oliver reported the verbal dispute during the game. On Tuesday, the Thunder insisted the jawing was positive. "It was all about trying to do the right thing," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We got to get a stop. That's what it was about. We got to stop the ball. Their point guards are getting inside the paint. The bigs and the guards have got to do a better job of stopping the basketball. That's what the"
Give Russell Westbrook a break
April 27
The Oklahoman
 columnist Berry Tramel
"Russell Westbrook staged his own 30 for 30 docudrama Monday night. Thirty points on 30 shots. Think of the marketing possibilities had the 30 for 30 game been aired on ESPN. Alas, TNT had Game 4 of the Thunder-Nugget series, which allowed Chris Webber and Charles Barkley to lambaste Westbrook, reminding him that he's Robin to Kevin Durant's Batman. They were partially right. Thirty shots is way too many for anyone this side of Wilt Chamberlain or maybe Durant, and nobody is pretending otherwise. "Did he take too many shots? Absolutely," said Thunder coach Scotty Brooks. So here's what Brooks should do Wednesday for Game 5. Nothing. Nothing at all. Nothing except to remind his staff that"
Denver focused on stopping Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
April 19
The Oklahoman
 
"Many of Denver's Game 2 adjustments will be trying to reduce the damage Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook inflicted, scoring a combined 72 points on 25-of-45 shooting. Questions already have surfaced as to whether the tandem can be stopped. "Can you stop anybody in this league?" Denver forward Kenyon Martin asked Monday. "No. You can contain them. They made tough shots. They're two great players. They're one of the highest scoring tandems in this league. They made tough shots. They made contested 3s. If Russell Westbrook is making contested 3s then you tilt your hat, pat him on his ass and go down the other way." The Nuggets will focus on turning Durant and Westbrook into passers on"
Russell Westbrook came through when Thunder needed him the most
April 18
The Oklahoman
 
"Russell Westbrook took the Thunder faithful on quite the ride Sunday night, a rickety rollercoaster that surely had you jumping for joy one minute and sinking in your seat the next. Should we have expected anything different? Before Westbrook lifted Oklahoma City to a 107-103 Game 1 win over Denver, the third-year point guard gave us all a reminder of why he was once the most questioned player in a Thunder uniform. In the final 61/2 minutes, Westbrook seemed to lose it. All the poise and patience he displayed in the first half had disappeared. That impressive decision-making and at times dogged defense we saw throughout much of the first 42 minutes suddenly died. Though Kevin Durant was as"
No one bigger for OKC Thunder in playoffs than Russell Westbrook
April 17
The Oklahoman
 columnist Jenni Carlson
"Russell Westbrook is a popular pick to be the breakout player of these playoffs. Um, Earth to the NBA pundits - he's already been there, done that. The Thunder point guard created quite the buzz a year ago against the Lakers. He made his presence known. He laid the groundwork for being chosen as an All-Star this season. There were times against the Lake Show that Westbrook was the best player on the court. Talk about a breakout. How can a guy who's already had a playoff breakout be the breakout player of these playoffs? I don't buy it. But I don't think the playoff prognosticators are all wrong about Westbrook. They say he's going to be big. They say he's going to dominate. That, I can"
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook lead Thunder past Kings
April 12
The Oklahoman
 
"Entering the final challenge of this quick two-game road trip, Thunder coach Scott Brooks didn't want to use Sunday's stunner against the Lakers in as the measuring stick for his team's mental fortitude. He wanted to define it by how his team responded one night later at Sacramento. And after watching the Thunder outlast an ornery Kings bunch, 120-112, Brooks had learned everything he needed to know about his club's frame of mind. "They are tough," Brooks said. "I believe our toughness is much better. We are mentally tough and we are getting physically tough." The Kings, playing in what could be their second-to-last game in Sacramento, took a surprising six-point lead into halftime and led"
Russell Westbrook adding another weapon to arsenal: the 3-ball
April 1
The Oklahoman
 
"There's a difference between a player who can shoot 3s and a 3-point shooter. In the Thunder's case, it's the difference between Russell Westbrook and Daequan Cook. Cook's jumper is a repeated, rhythmic stroke. Westbrook's shooting motion looks a little off-beat. Westbrook's jumper seems like it gets stuck in his hand rather than floating off the fingertips. The ball's rotation is at warp speed and 99.3 percent of the time the shot looks like it will fall short of the mark. But when the ball rips through the net, Westbrook's defender instantly wears an expression that says, "Oh, no. How do I possibly defend this guy if he starts making 3s?" Westbrook's teammates chuckle at the thought."