Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook posted some eye-popping numbers Sunday night against Indiana: 54 points, the third-highest total by an NBA player this season, along with nine rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes 22 seconds of playing time. However, it was another number that caught many people’s attention after the game: 43, as in the number of shots Westbrook took.
After that game, the Thunder guard was asked about taking so many shots, and let’s just say he wasn’t exactly apologetic.
Russell Westbrook took 43 shots, and he doesn't really care what you think about it: pic.twitter.com/qkEJCSxqrT
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 13, 2015
Given that Westbrook’s teammates, at least those healthy enough to play these days, don’t include Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, but do include the likes of Andre Roberson and Nick Collison, it is plausible that they really didn’t mind the all-star guard’s license to shoot.
Nevertheless, Westbrook’s outing was noteworthy, as, according to ESPN, he took the most shots in a game since Kobe Bryant in 2008. The 43 shots were also tied for the eighth-most by one player in NBA history, and given that the Thunder wound up losing the game, not to mention crucial ground in the playoff race, some observers felt that the prolific performance may have been a bit much.
Russell Westbrook took 43 shots. That's pretty disgusting.
— Jake (@sooner7th) April 13, 2015
43 shot attempts by Russell Westbrook, tied for the 8th most shot attempts in a game in NBA history. Is he trying to do too much for OKC?
— Zachary Snyder (@Fandings) April 13, 2015
Leave it to Bryant himself, then, to rise to Westbrook’s defense:
#StopIt pic.twitter.com/pPRO8BnF4P
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 13, 2015
In fairness, not all media members thought the shot attempts reflected so poorly on Westbrook. For instance, ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh pointed out that the guard out-performed another team’s entire quintet of starters:
Last night:
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 13, 2015
Celtics' starting five: 50 points on 43 field goal attempts.
Russell Westbrook: 54 points on 43 field goal attempts.
Westbrook’s teammates were probably just relieved that he was available to play Monday night, in another critical game. By picking up a technical foul Sunday night, the guard had accounted for a different notable number: 16 techs, the point at which an NBA player gets an automatic suspension. However, that foul was rescinded on Monday, leaving Westbrook available to “compete harder than anybody else” against the Trail Blazers.