"I told myself I wasn't going to cry” - Remembering Westbrook’s powerful MVP speech after record-breaking season

Nearly eight years ago to date, Kevin Durant abandoned the Oklahoma City Thunder in favor of the Golden State Warriors. In a move that came as a complete surprise for so many, his ex-teammate Russell Westbrook wasn’t one to mull over the shock — he was angry. He was hurt. But this grave disappointment would fuel one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history.

"Huge congrats to Russell Westbrook on MVP, that boy went out there and was a created player on 2k all year, (expletive) balled out," Durant wrote in a YouTube comment. "Gotta respect it!"

Durant may have given kudos to his former partner in crime, but knowing the 2017 MVP, he wasn’t the one to forgive and forget easily. After shattering Oscar Robertson’s single-season triple-double record, No. 0 took home the MVP in a landslide. For the season, the high-flying guard averaged a mind-numbing 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists on 42.5% shooting from the field. Fittingly enough, the MVP capped off an incredible season by delivering a speech for the ages.

“My parents, man, you guys did any and everything to make me and my brother had anything we wanted,” Westbrook said as his emotions started pouring out.

A fierce guy on the court — Russ rarely revealed his light-hearted emotions. Many fans know him as that stone-faced assassin who plays basketball. But away from the game, his teammates will attest to what a great family guy he is and his incredibly humble nature.

“I can’t say thank you enough — so many things I can say about you guys for putting me here,” he later added. “I’m just thankful to have you guys in my corner, so love you guys.

Framing an incredible season

Westbrook’s agenda was to break open the record books during the 2016 season. His former co-star left him high and dry. In just the second game of the season, Russ reeled off a 51-point performance against the Suns. Less than a week later, he met Durant for the first time. Seeing No. 35 relit that fire under Russ, he wanted to win so badly. He tried hard, maybe harder than he ever had. But the over-aggression led to a subpar performance: 4-15 shooting and six turnovers. While raw rage often inspired him to play his greatest, the guard decided to light up a little, and it worked. Before the turn of the calendar, Westbrook had a ridiculous three-game stretch in which he combined for 133 points and 32 rebounds.

Before the close of the regular season, Westbrook had nine 40-point games and three 50-point games — none better than his iconic 50-point triple-double against the Denver Nuggets on April 9. 42 triple-doubles, 1st in points, rebounds, and P.E.R.: The MVP crushed his individual goals for the season.

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Westbrook won the race; Durant won the marathon

The former Thunder teammates had an uneasy split, but it worked out in one way or another for both. Without each other, both stars achieved something they hadn’t in the past: Durant got his ring, and Westbrook got his MVP.

The two were just 27 years old when they split, what could’ve been if they stuck together for at least one more season is something fans will always wonder. Durantula’s move to the Warriors created a monopoly in the NBA, which is why some won’t ever forgive the 2014 MVP for jumping on the bandwagon. However, if KD stuck around, we probably wouldn’t get to witness a season for the ages from his former teammate. The 2016-17 season will always be remembered as Westbrook’s history-making campaign.

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