An Illustrated History of Russell Westbrook

Image via Complex Original

Before he was a star, Russy was an energy player on two Final Four teams, starting for UCLA in 2008 and dropping 22 points on Memphis in his final collegiate game. Even as a youngster, everyone knew he could sky. They just didn’t know how high he would reach.

No one thought Westbrook would go No. 4 overall—no one except the Thunder. But the Thunder saw a young fella who always fought. He fought when he was a 5'8" high school freshman, fought when he was a backup in college, and fought so hard in the NBA that everyone soon took notice.

The best Olympic basketball team since the Dream Team played 20 years prior? It’s possible. Westbrook played a key role off of the bench, causing havoc, recklessly dunking, and pressuring guards so heavily that Team USA often called off the dogs.

The NBA’s leading style icon getting with the industry’s hottest brand? We could dig it. Like Andre 3-Stacks and Big Boi, these two deserved each other and Russ immediately started showing out in JB’s hottest new signatures.

Cats grew up wanting to shoot like Bird, pass like Magic, and be like Mike. Now they want to dress like Westbrook. Oh, and play like him too. His 2013 cover story with Complex was all about uncovering what happens when you mix a pit bull with a butterfly.

Putting Kevin Durant and Westbrook together is like getting a mouthful of too much wasabi. You can’t get a taste and not make the stink face. The NBA found that out the hard way.

Westbrook isn’t just having a career year; he’s having an all-time year and keeps getting better, no matter the odds. If he isn’t the NBA MVP this year, someone has some explaining to do.

Remember when everyone thought that the NBA dress code would ruin creativity? Well, we’re about to hit the future. Having Westbrook as True Religion’s creative director has us salivating to see what he comes up with next.

Westbrook has become a regular at NYFW over the last few years and his new collection from Barneys is as bold as it is diverse. From shades to bags to neon print suits, homie is doing what he always does: standing out.

New York City’s NBA All-Star Weekend culminated with Westbrook turning the big game into his own personal show, setting the tone and attacking like it was a Game 7, and finishing with 41 points. His coming-out party doesn’t sound right. After seeing his numbers since then for OKC, this was more like a launching point.