NBA Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook is Oklahoma City Thunder’s MVP

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By @ShaneRantSports

Getty Images

Getty Images

In a holiday rematch of the 2014 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder headed into Texas on Christmas Day to take on the San Antonio Spurs. At 12-16, the season isn’t going as well as the Thunder had hoped, as their two stars were injured at the start of the season. Both have made their return, but not before OKC fell to the bottom of the West and Kevin Durant suffered another injury.

Oklahoma City still has possibly the most dynamic player in the league. Russell Westbrook returned from a broken hand and has been on a tear as the Thunder has gone 9-4 with the point guard back in the lineup. Westbrook is averaging 28.2 PTS, 5.8 REB and 7.1 AST while Durant works through his second injury stint.

Westbrook’s success continued against the Spurs as the Thunder received a Christmas present in the form of a double-double from Westbrook and victory over San Antonio, 114-106. As usual, Greg Popovich tinkered with lineups and even called out his players during an in-game interview, but it was not enough to overcome 34 PTS, 11 AST, 5 REB and 5 STLS from Westbrook.

It has been said and everyone knows that the Thunder is Durant’s team and he is the front man, but the way Westbrook has put the team on his shoulders and kept the season alive for Oklahoma City has been incredible. It may not be a fair comparison, but Westbrook is averaging much better numbers than Durant this season as well. Who knows what may happen once Durant is healthy and returns, but Westbrook is easily OKC’s most valuable player thus far.

Shane Phillips is an NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @ShaneRantSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also email Shane at [email protected].

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