Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook seemingly couldn’t care less about winning the NBA scoring title after the team missed out on the playoffs.
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Westbrook ended the regular season with 37 points in the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, and was in turn crowned the scoring champion with an average of 28.1 points per game.
Houston Rockets star James Harden finished in second place with 27.4, but while he is preparing for a playoff run, his former teammate will now be planning his summer elsewhere and getting back to work ahead of next season.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks paid tribute to his explosive point guard for his all-round effort this year, but Westbrook himself was undoubtedly frustrated about missing out on the post-season which ultimately soured his joy of winning the award.
“Sh–,” Westbrook said when asked what the scoring title means to him, ESPN reports.
“It doesn’t mean nothing. Good job. Hooray. I’m at home. Watching other teams play. Doesn’t mean nothing.”
With the New Orleans Pelicans defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the regular season finale, they held on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference by way of the head-to-head tie-breaker with the Thunder.
Westbrook reiterated that he would have preferred to have made the playoffs rather than win the individual award according to ESPN, but there is little more he could have done to push OKC over the line.
While his performances were undoubtedly impressive, particularly in the latter stages of the season with Kevin Durant sidelined by injury again as he went on a triple-double tear, it wasn’t enough to inspire the team to enough wins to surpass the Pelicans and snatch that final spot away from them.
After years of disappointment, the Thunder will have to come back stronger again next year and they will hope to have their MVP back healthy after undergoing three separate procedures on his foot this past year.
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