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by Abe Schwadron / @abe_squad
2011 has been a good year for Russell Westbrook. He put up career high averages in points (21.9), assists (8.3), steals (1.9), field goal percentage (44.2) and free throw percentage (84.2), earned All-Star honors for the first time in his young career, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Russ posted a triple-double three times during the regular season and once in the Playoffs—a 105-90 win over the Grizzlies in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Thunder fell to Dallas in the next round, but with Westbrook’s quantum leap in year three and scoring champ Kevin Durant alongside, Oklahoma City is as legit a title contender as there is in the League today. Westbrook is used to the success: In two years at UCLA, he played on back-to-back Final Four teams, and played his high school ball with Warriors forward Dorell Wright. The Long Beach native turns 23 years old Saturday, and since the 6-3 combo guard has never been shy to show his true colors (sneaker pun intended), we take a look back at his history in kicks. Happy birthday, Russ!
