Russell Westbrook equals LeBron (44) despite fewer games played

Most of the discussion surrounding Monday’s Knicks-Thunder game will center around yet another Russell Westbrook triple-double. They pale compared to what Westbrook is doing, almost averaging a triple double with 31.2 points, 11.2 assists and 9.9 rebounds per game, threatening to become the only player other than Oscar Robertson in 1962.

The two match up tonight at Madison Square Garden with Westbrook bringing his video game type numbers with the Thunder to take on the Knicks. “He could do it”, Donovan said. “It worked out how it’s supposed to – he won on my spot, I won on his spot, we break even and now we root for each other again”.

Enes Kanter offered another offensive threat for the Thunder, rising from the bench to score 27 points and grab 10 rebounds in 28 minutes.

The numbers of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists may look pretty mundane for the OKC star on the face of it, but the context behind it certainly isn’t.

That disdain for the popular narratives surrounding the sport is just part of Westbrook’s singular defiant attitude – the same one that, when he saw Durant joining a team that was already dominant, made Westbrook scoff.

After the game, he said he isn’t concerned about the stats he is putting up.

Of that group, Westbrook ranks behind Jordan and Bryant in terms of shooting efficiency, hitting 45.7 percent of his two-point shots and a career-high 34.7 percent of his shots from behind the arc.

It seems completely insane to think that Westbrook could somehow keep this up for another five months, but if he does, it would have to rank up there as one of the greatest seasons ever. And James could be retired while Westbrook chases Jason Kidd (107), Magic Johnson (138) and the Big O, who has a staggering 181.

It’s postulate. But Westbrook has also become the league’s most fun player to watch on the glass. “Right now I just got to stay focused on my progress and get ready for the next one”. It’s historic what he’s doing.

Asking who the NBA’s best-rebounding point guard is these days only leads to discussion over the league’s second-best.

The advanced stats agree.

Sure, watching Stephen Curry go on one of his torrid three-point displays is fun but the anger Westbrook plays with, the constant attacking he does, the yelling, the vicious dunks, and now the nightly triple-double watch, make him must-see TV for National Basketball Association fans.

The last three games have been especially challenging for Derrick Rose, having to face attacking point guards Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker twice. Eight of the 10 players who touched the court scored.