Averaging a 31-11-11 triple-double through the first 23 games of the season, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has slingshotted himself to the forefront of the NBA MVP conversation. But that doesn’t mean it’s a conversation he particularly cares about.
Speaking with the media ahead of the Thunder’s game against the Celtics on Sunday, Westbrook insisted that he doesn’t care about the MVP award because he’s laser-focused on winning a title, per Royce Young of ESPN.
Russell Westbrook on MVP: "I don't care, honestly. A championship is always the most important thing to me."
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 11, 2016
Unlike in years past, Westbrook’s accumulation of individual popcorn stats has actually been moderately conducive to team success for the 14-9 Thunder, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference. That gives some serious legitimacy to his case for MVP, an award he has never won before, and at least one fellow superstar thinks that Westbrook can maintain his scorching pace.
But Westbrook knows firsthand how unfulfilling personal accolades are when you aren’t competing for a title, having won the 2014-15 scoring title despite Oklahoma City failing to qualify for the playoffs that season. As such, having this kind of mindset will be crucial for the five-time All-Star as he tries his damnedest to lead the Thunder to the mountaintop.
