The media types at the Furtado Center Thursday night let out an audible groan when the Sonics announced Russell Westbrook as their top pick, the fourth selection of the draft.
But that was nothing compared to Dick Vitale's railing on ESPN that the Sonics blew it, that they should have drafted Westbrook's UCLA teammate, Kevin Love. They coulda been had something special, Vitale said. They coulda got guards anywhere, he said. They coulda paired Kevin Durant with Love and had an unstoppable combo.
The Sonics made the right move. Westbrook wasn't projected as one who would go that high, but in three years, when everyone asks whatever happened to Arizona's Jerryd Bayless, Texas' D.J. Augustin and Italy's Danillo Gallinari, Westbrook will rival Durant as the toast of Oklahoma City or Seattle or Indonesia or wherever the Sonics finally end up.
I'm furious at the Sonics ownership for everything it stands for. I want to trash the kid. But I can't. He's too good.
A year ago, Westbrook was fighting for minutes at UCLA. In his freshman year, he started exactly one game and played just 48 minutes for coach Ben Howland. This past season, Westbrook was named the Pac-10's Defensive Player of the Year.
"Russell has worked very, very hard to put himself in a position where he is projected to be a first-round draft pick,"
Howland said recently. "I'm really excited and proud about what Russell accomplished this year. I haven't had a player that's improved more in one year than Russell."
Coming from Howland, that's saying something. But Westbrook earned it. Sonics general manager Sam Presti called Westbrook "the hardest worker in the draft."
"O.J. Mayo told us he'd go to three gyms a day,"
Presti said. "He said when he went to each gym, Russell Westbrook was already there."
Westbrook harassed the nation's best college talent into having forgettable nights. He held Michigan State's Drew Neitzel to 4-for-11 shooting for 13 points; forced six turnovers from Augustin; limited Davidson's Stephen Curry to 6-for-19 field goals; forced Washington State's Kyle Weaver into 4-for-11 shooting and more than held his own against USC's O.J. Mayo in their three meetings, holding the draft's No. 3 pick to 5-for-12 shooting with four turnovers and four fouls Jan. 19, followed by 2-for-8 from the field with 10 turnovers and a career-low eight points on Feb. 17 and 6-for-16 shooting on March 14.
Clearly, Westbrook is on the rise, judging from the last 12 months.
"Man, it's been real crazy,"
Westbrook said. "I'm blessed. Every day, I wake up and thank God. I just work my tail off every day to become the best player I can possibly become. Now, it's like starting all over again."
Westbrook has all the physical tools at 6-foot-3, 187 pounds. He's strong enough to guard any shooting guard in the league, easily fast enough to fill lanes on the break and athletic enough to finish with highlight-reel dunks.
The Sonics drafted Westbrook as a both a point guard and shooting guard. Although the Bruins had Darren Collison, a natural point guard at the collegiate level, Westbrook sees himself playing the point in the NBA.
"I've been playing point guard all my life, pretty much,"
he said. "Now is my time when I can show it to the whole world, playing at the next level."
The weakness, according to draft gurus: perimeter shooting. But again, Westbrook has shown a willingness to work and improve. He became a featured scorer at UCLA, averaging 12.7 points a game last season.
Westbrook formerly was a dismal free throw shooter. As a freshman, he made just 55 percent from the line. Last season, he improved to 71.
Westbrook won't turn 20 until Nov. 12. He won't immediately burn the league down as a rookie.
But watch out. Westbrook hasn't even tapped his ability yet.
When he does, we may finally see Vitale struck speechless.
