All of the hoopla around the John Wall-Russell Westbrook trade has died down as the Wizards are making a playoff run while Houston is in full rebuild mode.
The trade is look good for Washington as they are up two games on the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed. After a slow start, Westbrook, along with Bradley Beal, has played a huge role.
Westbrook has been a triple-double machine. Not only does he have 176 career triple doubles but he’s been so proficient at it, he feels as if people don’t appreciate it any more.
“There is no player like myself. And if people want to take it for granted, sorry for them.”
Russ keeping it real ? pic.twitter.com/7cuEpFxzzT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2021
No matter what Westbrook thinks, the one entity that is more than willing to give him love is the Washington Wizards. GM Tommy Shephard took a big risk trading fan favorite, Wall, and after Westbrook’s slow start, many were more than willing to question the move.
This is Russell Westbrook’s 3rd season with 30+ triple-doubles. No other player in @NBAHistory has had more than 1 season with 30+ triple-doubles. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/t2onIN9EDV
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) April 29, 2021
For Wall, the season couldn’t have been worse. He arrived in Houston to a franchise in transition that was dealing with a disgruntled star in James Harden. Eventually, Harden got his wish and was traded to the Brooklyn Nets leaving Wall and the Houston Rockets with an incredible burden.
Perhaps the highlight of his season was his trip back home to Washington. Wall scored 29 points and dished out 11 assists in a 131-119 loss.
But like the Rockets season, Wall’s first year in Houston was bound to end in disappointing fashion. The Rockets have already announced that Wall will be out for the rest of the season with a right hamstring strain. Wall will end the season averaging 20.6 points and 6.9 assists while shooting 40.4% from the floor in 40 games.
As for the Wizards, they are playing meaningful games with one of the highest scoring backcourts in the NBA. It is what the organization imagined when they made the trade.
