It’s been quite the roller-coaster year for Russell Westbrook. Everything good that’s happened to him during the 2016-2017 season has had a bittersweet tinge to it after Kevin Durant skipped town and joined the Warriors last summer, but that only served to motivate him that much more.
He proceeded to make history by averaging a tripe-double for the entire season – a feat most people thought would never be replicated after Oscar Robertson did it more than 50 years prior. That culminated in his first-ever MVP award, but even that was little consolation after a disappointing opening-round exit in the playoffs.
But things have definitely started to look up. The Thunder made arguably the biggest splash of the off-season so far by landing Paul George for pennies on the dollar, and now, Westbrook can add yet another trophy to his award-winning season after taking home the ESPY for Male Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.
But it wasn’t all gravy for Westbrook at the sports world’s biggest annual awards show. At the opening of the ceremony, host and NFL legend Peyton Manning savagely burned his former teammate Durant for joining the Warriors, then immediately turned his attention to Russ to try and get a response, but OKC’s superstar guard wisely refused to take the bait.
Now, Russ can turn his attention to the season ahead, which will undoubtedly present all sorts of new challenges as he and George and Thunder try to work their way back into championship contention.
