Oladipo, Westbrook Combine for 4 NBA Awards
In what turned out to be a surprisingly fun and laugh-filled evening, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Victor Oladipo and Russell Westbrook won a combined four categories at the inaugural NBA Awards Show.
Before the telecast even came on TNT, Westbrook learned he had won the “Best Style Award.” Fittingly, he was walking the red carpet when he was handed the trophy, wearing a relatively calm outfit by his standards. Still, a pair of stylishly small glasses gave a little bit of that signature Brodie flair. Here was what he said when he learned he’d won:
.@russwest44 receiving the inaugural “Best Style Award” from @KristenLedlow on the #NBAAwards Red Carpet. pic.twitter.com/a8nSbelTYl
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
“I think the fans do an amazing job of obviously watching the game and watching myself stroll into the arena.” Yeah, he said that. Can’t make this stuff up. Congrats fans!
Within the first hour of the program, it became obvious that the Oklahoma City faithful really showed out for fan awards when Oladipo won “Dunk of the Year” over Larry Nance Jr. and Zach LaVine. Here was the dunk that won him the award:
Mr. Feathery wins the award with a big time dunk over @DwightHoward. #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/8RB41aJ9H6
— Up The Thunder (@UpTheThunder) June 27, 2017
After the award was announced, Nance responded on Twitter in classic indirect #NBATwitter fashion, with this photo:
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) June 27, 2017
When the show swung back to the NBA on TNT guys for more fan awards, first up was “Game Winner of the Year.” And once again, it was a victory for the OKC Thunder. Westbrook’s game winner on April 9th over the Denver Nuggets was not only a 35-foot dagger, it capped off an epic 50-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist performance. It also was his record-breaking 42nd triple double, and eliminated the Nuggets from playoff contention. Not a bad day’s work.
Westbrook wins Game Winner of the Year with this unforgettable shot that capped off his historic season. #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/0Xu0oou3f3
— Up The Thunder (@UpTheThunder) June 27, 2017
Directly after came the “Performance of the Year” category, which Westbrook was also nominated in for his 57-13-11 stat line against the Orlando Magic. The other three nominees were equally impressive. Neither Devin Booker’s 70-point outburst against the Celtics or James Harden’s 53-16-17 gem against the Spurs could even win. Instead it was Klay Thompson, who put up 60 points in three quarters against the Pacers. Yeah yeah, let’s move on.
The last win for the team of course was the Most Valuable Player award. In what may have been the most hotly-contested MVP race in NBA history, it was Russell Westbrook who prevailed over the rest.
It truly was the year of the Brodie.
The four awards that Oklahoma City received were the most given to any single team in the Association.
