In George entering the MVP conversation, more light has been shed on Russell Westbrook's season.
Westbrook is on pace to average a triple-double for the third straight season. Hardly anyone is talking about it, two years after it was one of the biggest stories in the NBA.
He is also having the worst shooting year of his career, all while taking a noticeable backseat to George.
The set-up has caught the eyes of players, analysts, and media. Westbrook and Kevin Durant struggled in an awkward on-court power struggle during their years together. Many people thought Westbrook should take a step back to let Durant dominate.
Now Westbrook seems to have finally ceded control to George, who in turn is putting up, well, Durant-esque numbers and leading the Thunder. Some consider them the biggest threat to the Warriors
O'Neal, while weighing in on the MVP race, had Westbrook above George. Almost all voters would disagree with that, but O'Neal's argument does raise an interesting point: Westbrook has fit into the role most have wanted to see him in, and he's affecting the game in so many ways other ways that his poor shooting hasn't had a catastrophic effect on the Thunder.
Some in the NBA world have soured on Westbrook in recent years, for his borderline reckless approach on the court. He seems to have dialed it back, for the better, while also having one of his worst offensive seasons. It's a strange dynamic that has earned him praise, but also could find him off of All-NBA ballots later in the season.