Looking back at the 2017 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about that incredible showdown between Russell Westbrook and James Harden for the MVP crown. As someone who's followed basketball religiously since the Jordan era, I've rarely witnessed such a tightly contested individual battle that kept fans debating for months. The Thunder's triple-double machine versus the Rockets' offensive maestro - it was like watching two different philosophies of basketball excellence collide.
Westbrook's achievement of averaging a triple-double for the entire season still blows my mind when I think about it. The raw numbers were staggering - 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game. Nobody had done that since Oscar Robertson back in 1962, and many of us in the basketball community thought we'd never see it happen again. What made it even more remarkable was how he carried the Thunder after Kevin Durant's departure to Golden State. I remember watching game after game where Westbrook simply refused to let his team lose, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. His usage rate of 41.7% was historically high, and honestly, watching him play that season felt like witnessing someone trying to single-handedly defy basketball physics.
Meanwhile, James Harden was revolutionizing the point guard position in Mike D'Antoni's system, putting up 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a league-leading 11.2 assists. The transformation was something special to watch - from sixth man earlier in his career to offensive engine of a 55-win team. His step-back three became the most unstoppable move in basketball, and his ability to draw fouls while maintaining scoring efficiency was frankly artistic. I've always appreciated players who change how the game is played, and Harden's combination of isolation mastery and playmaking reminded me of how Allen Iverson reshaped scoring guard expectations years earlier.
The MVP race ultimately went to Westbrook, and while I understood the narrative appeal of his historic triple-double season, part of me will always wonder if Harden deserved it more for his team's superior success. The Rockets finished third in the Western Conference with 55 wins compared to Oklahoma City's 47 wins and sixth seed. This debate reminds me of those classic boxing matches where the decision could have gone either way - much like the legendary Ali-Frazier fight where Ali won by TKO after Futch felt Frazier, with both eyes badly swollen, had enough and refused to let him come out for the 15th and final round. Sometimes in sports, the statistical achievement overshadows team success, and other times it's the reverse.
Beyond the MVP conversation, we had LeBron James putting up 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.7 assists at age 32, which was just absurd longevity for someone in his 14th season. Kawhi Leonard established himself as a true two-way superstar, leading the Spurs to 61 wins while playing elite defense. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant formed perhaps the most talented duo ever in Golden State, though their shared brilliance probably cost each other MVP consideration. What struck me about that season was how many legitimate superstars were performing at peak levels simultaneously - it felt like we were witnessing a golden age of individual talent across the league.
Reflecting on it now, the 2017 season represented a fascinating transition period in NBA history. The Warriors were establishing their dynasty, but individual greatness still shone through in remarkable ways. Westbrook's historic triple-double campaign will likely be remembered as the defining individual achievement, though the depth of elite performance across the league made ranking players particularly challenging that year. As someone who values both statistical excellence and winning impact, I still find myself revisiting that season's debates whenever current MVP conversations arise. The truth is, in seasons with multiple deserving candidates, who you rank highest often comes down to what you value most in basketball - historic individual milestones or team success. Personally, I lean toward the latter, but I'll never deny the sheer spectacle of Westbrook's 2017 campaign.
