/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69053065/1309976458.0.jpg)
Social media or rather social media consisting of Washington Wizards fans, Russell Westbrook fans and whomever went off on Monday night as they watched Brodie have a superb night. Not only did Westbrook lead the Wizards to victory, he finished the night with 35 points, 21 assists and 14 rebounds. That stat line made him the first to post a 35+ point, 20+ assist triple-double in NBA history. And that triple double was his 16th this season a franchise record for the Wizards.
I mean that sounds impressive, right? Not to First Take’s own Stephen A Smith. He stated in the video below that those numbers don’t mean anything. Simply put what Westbrook is currently doing is nothing new. He’s done it for the Oklahoma City Thunder as well as with the Houston Rockets. Even while in OKC, he was the NBA MVP in 2016-17 averaging a triple-double and even had 42 triple-doubles in a season, a record.
But all these triple-doubles and greatness he brings as a guard, he doesn’t have much to show for it besides that MVP award. There’s no championships. There’s only one NBA Finals appearance (lost to Miami Heat 4-1). He has had backcourt help with each of his previous teams. Westbrook even currently has NBA’s leading scorer, Bradley Beal.
So when Smith says those numbers don’t matter, they really don’t. After all, what else can one do to win and reach heights of championship caliber?
Utmost respect to Russell Westbrook, but last night’s numbers mean absolutely nothing to me. pic.twitter.com/FRaanNyHpn
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 30, 2021
That said, Westbrook had a response after the Wizards’ loss to the Hornets last night.
Russell Westbrook gave a 2-and-a-half minute answer in response to a question about @stephenasmith’s comments on First Take: “A championship don't change my life. I'm happy. I was a champion once I made it to the NBA. I grew up in the streets. I'm a champion.”
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) March 31, 2021
Full quote here: pic.twitter.com/wcceIzqQlg