Westbrook Explodes to Propel Wizards to First Round Exit

As the Washington Wizards prepare for their annual summer vacations following their series defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers, it's important to remember how far the Wizards and Russell Westbrook climbed from their abysmal start to the season. 

Before Westbrook arrived in DC, the Wizards looked to be in a tailspin, caught in the no man’s land of competing for a title and tanking for better draft position, planning to run it back with Bradley Beal, John Wall coming off of two years of rest following a nasty string of injuries, Davis Bertans and the rest of their lackluster bench. Rumors flew around the franchise that Beal might be traded to a franchise who wouldn’t waste his talent. Questions about their draft selections from recent years leading to a lack of contributing players surrounding their stars were amuck.

Westbrook mid-takeoff during the 2021 season. (via Fox News)

Then, current general manager Tommy Sheppard made the deal that saved his season.

He took John Wall, added a protected first-round pick and received the effort machine that is Russell Westbrook from the Houston Rockets.

After trading away Wall to the Rockets in exchange for Westbrook, not much was thought of the Wizards in the beginning of the season. Their start was worse than expected, being 5-15 at one point. It was deemed another Wizards failed season as they looked lifeless and unable to rise to the challenge of having a decent season.They looked lost, their draft picks were not contributing in a way that led to cohesive winning basketball, Russell Westbrook stepped up to the plate and started to drive the Wizards to make the playoffs in a season that seemed lost 20 games in.

The Wizards certainly had hurdles to clear to make the playoffs even with Westbrook at the helm. Whether it was dealing with season-ending injuries to role players, missing games due to COVID related absences and head coach Scott Brooks’ antiquated style of play, they pushed forward with one goal in mind;

A slow start to the season had podcast hosts and other journalists who cover the NBA reading Westbrook his last rites. Throughout the season he seemed to gain momentum getting better or seemingly more comfortable on his new team. Westbrook would strap on his superhero cape and go to average 22 points, 11.6 assists and 11.6 rebounds for the season. While averaging well over a triple-double for the season, he broke Oscar Robertson’s career triple-double record with now 181 total triple-doubles. The thought of this record ever being broken was always seen as impossible due to the pace of play during Robertson’s era, but due to Westbrook freakish athleticism coupled with a non-stop motor, he was able to smash the record and carry the new number to heights previously thought to be unreachable.

Westbrook gave everything he had to try and beat the 76ers, but it was not enough. (via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Down the stretch, he dug deep and was able to bring his game to a new level. Carrying the Wizards on his back with averages of nearly 26 points, 14 rebounds and 16(!!!) assists per game during May. FromMarch through May, Westbrook never averaged less than 11 rebounds or assists. These astronomical numbers, paired with the Wizards’ cohesion during the final stretch of the season, enabled the Wizards to play for an opportunity to break into the playoffs via the NBA’s new Play-In games. 

Earning the eighth seed in the eastern conference led to a matchup with the seventh-seeded Boston Celtics in the Play in Tournament with the winner advancing to face the number two seed Brooklyn Nets and the loser consequently facing the winner of the tenth seeded Charlotte Hornets against the ninth-seeded Indiana Pacers for the chance to play the number one seed Philadelphia 76ers.

The Wizards went on to lose against the Celtics in the first Play-In game, they advanced past the Pacers in comfortable fashion, dominating against a disorganized and oft-injured team. This victory would be short-lived however as they now had to stand up against the 76ers led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. 

Unfortunately, the Wizards’ luck would end there as the 76ers subdued Westbrook and Beal to win the series 4-1. While Westbrook had a double-double or better in each of the five games played, it was not enough to will his team on as they could not handle the defensive pressure applied by the 76ers.

It’s very easy to see the disaster of a season the Wizards could’ve had if not for Russell Westbrook joining their team.

Imagine a scenario where you have a disinterested John Wall surrounded by sub-par teammates and a depressed Bradley Beal. The effort or spark would not be present, not nearly in the same way as it was with Westbrook. It’s likely this team would have rolled over when they were at their worst, at the beginning of the season. But due to Westbrooke’s never say die attitude and willingness to bring his non-stop motor every single night on the floor, the season was saved.

Would Washington fans have preferred a higher draft pick? Maybe some, but developing a winning mentality can potentially do a lot more for your team.