Russell Westbrook's complicated, brilliant, and unforgettable legacy: Why surefire Hall of Famer was one-of-a-kind

Russell Westbrook's complicated, brilliant, and unforgettable legacy: Why surefire Hall of Famer was one-of-a-kind originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Russell Westbrook's retirement announcement during the dog days of the NBA offseason was in some ways shocking and in other ways fitting. In an age where Shams Charania is the first to everything, Westbrook did it his own way, taking to his own social media to announce the news to the world. 

Westbrook's desire to tell his own story shouldn't come as a surprise to those who covered him. His relationship with the media was terrific with a select few and rocky with everyone else. 

My own experience with Westbrook was brief. I tried to interview him multiple times, was granted access once, and had him no-show after waiting seven hours for five minutes of his time. 

Those negative experiences with media members shouldn't take away from the amazing things that Westbrook did both on and off the court. It certainly didn't for me, particularly as I researched more about him and learned that he was privately one of the kindest players in the NBA. 

MORE: The hidden side of Russell Westbrook: NBA's most hostile interview is also its kindest teammate

Westbrook's kindness didn't show up on the court, where his fierce competitiveness knew no boundaries. He would do anything and everything to win. Those that accused him of stat-padding rebounds for triple-doubles didn't see him skying above Rudy Gobert to crash the glass. Those that questioned his motives didn't know about Billy Donovan locking the gym to force him to take a day off. 

Westbrook brought that manic energy wherever he went. The smallest slights became fuel for him, whether real or invented. And his enthusiasm was contagious.

There's marching to the beat of your own drummer, and then there's Russ, who marched to the beat of a drummer that wasn't even there. 

There is a delay in the Wizards game and Russell Westbrook has been dancing by himself to no music for, like, the entire time: pic.twitter.com/EYDhrcHIGe

That positive energy made Westbrook one of the most beloved members of the NBA fraternity after the whistle blew. He would take younger teammates under his wing, bringing them shopping and treating them to dinners. Clint Capela told me of a time on the Rockets when he complimented Westbrook's bracelet. So Russ took it off his wrist and gifted it to Capela. 

On the court, there was nobody else like Westbrook. His 2017 MVP season was so statistically dominant that it literally broke Basketball-Reference's BPM metric. He looked 20 percent better than any other season in NBA history.

Westbrook literally broke the BPM (box plus minus) stat in his MVP season since he was 70% of OKC's production. The NBA had to adjust the BPM later https://t.co/fowiIi8PUmpic.twitter.com/AepUFPEk4g

The stat's creator, Daniel Myers, released a BPM 2.0 in order to adjust for one player out of the almost 5,000 that have logged NBA minutes.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double that season. At the time, Oscar Robertson had done it in 1962, but it was unheard of in the modern NBA. Westbrook did it again in three of the next four seasons and retired with an NBA-record 209 triple-doubles for his career. 

Westbrook was always pushing the envelope. In his prime, it was the key to his MVP-level play. Towards the end, it was a fatal flaw. Watching him try to reach back and find his former self resulted in holding your breath every moment, not knowing if the next play would be brilliant or a blooper.

MORE: Ranking Russell Westbrook's most iconic NBA moments

Eighteen years in the league will lead to some lowlights. The highlights far outweigh them. Those are the moments that will linger in my memory. I'll remember the electric dunks, the powerful drives, and rocking the baby. I'll remember the Shammgod and Spider-Man pose. 

Westbrook with the Shammgod and then the Spider-Man pose for the assist to Steven Adams' easy dunk (with replays)

Via: https://t.co/Kouj1v9jvspic.twitter.com/eEWGnDZUH3

I'll remember the coolest technical foul that I have ever seen in an NBA game. 

Westbrook GLADLY takes the technical foul after swinging on the rim.

Screaming "TAKE YA ASS HOME... THEY SOFT." https://t.co/g60JJxespGpic.twitter.com/aWUFbTdtzX

What I will remember most about Westbrook is the stories that he never wanted to be told. Leaving an $8,000 tip for housekeepers during the NBA bubble. Working behind the scenes to donate meals to nurses during the pandemic lockdowns or becoming a regular at children's hospitals. Giving away the cars that he won as All-Star MVP to families in need. Getting to know the staffers on the Thunder and attending hockey games, soccer matches, and piano recitals of their children. And teaching other players to pay it forward with kindness and generosity too. 

Westbrook is a surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. He retires with nine All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA appearances, an MVP award, two scoring titles, and three assist titles. He was one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. I'll leave it to others to debate his exact placement on that list.

There is no way for me to compare him to anyone else, because he truly was one-of-a-kind.