NBA news: Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook criticised amid knee surgery
RUSSELL WESTBROOK’s knee surgery should be no surprise to NBA fans, according to Colin Cowherd.
Blake Griffin and Russell Westbrook show off skills on the court
The Oklahoma City Thunder talisman endured three knee surgeries during the 2013/13 season and has recently undergone surgery on the same patella ahead of the upcoming campaign.
It will be Westbrook’s ninth NBA season, and the 29-year-old will be hoping average a triple-double for the third consecutive season.
The point guard was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2017 and his importance at Thunder has increased since the departure of Kevin Durant.
Westbrook is renowned for his gung-ho style, which focuses on hitting the rim hard and dropping twos more so than threading passes for his teammates - the traditional role of a point guard.
Steph Curry can shoot forever, dynamic guys fall off cliffs, physically
FOX Sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd has long been a sceptic of the extent to which Westbrook’s talismanic presence is a positive effect in Oklahoma.
Speaking on his show, The Herd, Cowherd said: “What happens to all dynamic point guards? Two things happen.
“After eight, nine years you start to notice something… They don’t get very far in the play-offs. And oh, they’re having surgeries on their knees.”
Westbrook has only led Thunder to the NBA finals once, which they lost against LeBron James’ Miami Heat in 2012.
“The superstar, athletically-dynamic, score-first point guard is great for highlights - you can’t turn them off the TV. They’re so different, so unique, so fun. They win awards, they sell merchandise,” continued Cowherd.
“In year nine they get a little less athletic because they’re having surgeries.
“That’s not to say Westbrook isn’t amazing and is going to average 30 points, but it’s a cautionary tale.
“Steph Curry can shoot forever, dynamic guys fall off cliffs, physically.”