Despite the performance of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who recently recorded his 7th consecutive triple-double, tying Michael Jordan’s mark, Dallas Mavericks outspoken owner Mark Cuban is not sold on Westbrook being defined as a superstar.
“He’s putting up superstar numbers. That’s for damn sure,” Cuban said regarding Westbrook. “I’m not taking anything away from what he’s been able to accomplish, but I’m not going to change my definition. He’s putting up superstar numbers. You can’t deny that.”
Westbrook is on pace to be the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson accomplished the feat back in 1962-63.
Back in April of this year, when the Mavericks were facing the Thunder in the NBA Playoffs, Cuban said that a true superstar can carry a mediocre roster to 50 wins and a postseason series win.
Shortly after Cuban’s comments Westbrook put in a 36-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist performance in Game 5 of that series, which eliminated Dallas.
“That’s no disrespect to Russell,” Cuban said. “He’s been a beast. Few have done what he’s done, but I’ll stick by my definition. I’m not saying that he’s not going to prove me wrong and that he [won’t be] a superstar by the end of the year. That’s fine, but I’ll stick by my definition.”
