NBA: Why Russell Westbrook Needs To Mature For the Thunder to be Successful

By Wyatt Smith (Clickege)

Russel Westbrook has been known to share with others his displeasure with them or the team. During the Thunder's win against the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night, Westbrook was taken out of the game, and shortly after stormed to the locker room yelling at one of his coaches.

A few minutes earlier in the game, a 5 second back down violation was called against Westbrook, which isn't too big of a deal in the third quarter of a regular season game, right? Well apparently Thabo Sefalosha cut through the lane while Westbrook was in the post, which limited Russel from cutting to the basket and therefore resulted in a 5 second penalty. Sure that might upset anyone a little bit, but does it really require a breakdown that ends with a trip to the locker room?

Westbrook has had his fair share of mid-game breakdowns and temper tantrums. A few years ago he chewed out Thabo Sefalosha(whom he doesn't seem to like) for not shooting a wide open shot, which followed with Kevin Durant and Kendrick Perkins trying to calm down the point guard. Later that game though, Durant and Westbrook had to be separated from each other while on the bench, and Westbrook ignored the media after the game.

Westbrook is an extremely talented young player. He's averaging about 23 points and 8 assists a game, to go along with 2 steals per game. He's a strong, athletic 6'3 point guard that can jump with the best of them, shoot the three effectively, and dish it off to teammates. Oh and another little tid bit of information is that Westbrook hasn't missed a single game in his four years of high school, 2 years at UCLA, and 4 years of playing professionally.

That is probably one of the most impressive sports statistics I've ever seen.

So while Westbrook is an insanely gifted athlete and player, he's got a few things to improve upon if the Thunder want to achieve their goal of a championship. He averages about 4 turnovers a game, still, even after his fourth year in the league which is among the league leaders.

Also, Westbrook tends to forget that he is the second best player on his team, next to Kevin Durant. Last year in the playoffs he tried to takeover in the fourth quarter and almost cost the Thunder their chance to get to the finals. And then there's always the immature behavior that occurs when Russel isn't getting his way. Whether it's not getting enough shots, not making enough shots, or his teammates passing up open shots, Westbrook decides to handle it like a 7th grader instead of a mature adult.

The Thunder may have the best potential of any team in the league with their youth, great coaching and front office, supportive fan base, and superstars in Durant and Westbrook. They have everything it takes to win a championship, and have already been close to doing so. One of the final touches that need to be made to this team is for Westbrook to be a leader, and realize that his outbursts of anger must stop now to give the Thunder a chance to win it all.