![]() The 6'3" point guard averaged 23.6 points per game during the 2011-12 season and led the Thunder to an NBA Finals matchup against the Miami Heat. Paired with fellow All-Star Kevin Durant, Westbrook helped a young, exciting Thunder team reach the 2011 Western Conference Finals. Westbrook was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging more than 15 points per game in his first season, and by his third season he became just the fifth player in league history to accumulate 4,000 points, 1,500 assists and 1,000 rebounds by that point of his career. He was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle Supersonics, which officially became the Oklahoma City Thunder a few days later. ![]() The athletic, explosive Westbrook helped UCLA reach the Final Four in both of his seasons at UCLA, earning all-conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. As a senior, he averaged more than 25 points per game and dunked for the first time, and was recruited to play for Ben Howland at UCLA. Westbrook played his way into the starting lineup as a junior, and that summer he underwent a growth spurt that suddenly transformed him into a major college basketball prospect. Westbrook attracted little attention as 5'8" freshman at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California, and the following year he endured a personal tragedy when teammate Khelcey Barrs died after a pickup game. and mom Shannon Horton also made sure their two boys focused on academics, with Westbrook eventually becoming an honor student. He learned to play basketball from his dad, a playground star who devised drills for Westbrook and younger brother Raynard to follow. Russell Westbrook III was born on November 12, 1988, in Long Beach, California, and grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Also known for his eccentric outfits, Westbrook has collaborated with Barneys New York and launched an eyewear brand. After joining the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, the point guard became one of pro basketball's most dynamic players he led his team to the 2012 NBA Finals and was named MVP in 2017 after becoming the first player in 55 years to average a triple-double for the entire season. In his first full season with the Kings, the three-time NBA All-Star leads the league in double-doubles and is averaging 19.0 points on an incredible 60.8 percent shooting, 12.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 70 games this season.Russell Westbrook learned to play basketball from his hoops-loving father. "And I just felt it would help us - and take pressure off me." ![]() ![]() But after he proved his game over the years and made his mark in the league - game couldn't help but recognize game. To be fair, Sabonis was a rookie in his only season with Westbrook. “That's what made the transition so easy. ![]() Not many franchise point guards would let their big man bring the ball up. "I was really surprised," Sabonis told ESPN's Zach Lowe. So when Sabonis arrived in Sacramento via trade last season, he figured it’d be a similar situation with Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox. Westbrook undoubtedly was the king of that team, helping them reach the postseason and make one NBA Finals appearance for nine of his 11 years in Oklahoma City. ![]()
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