The Sneakers Worn for Russell Westbrook's Defining Moments

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Complex Original

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Russell Westbrook
Image via Bleacher Report

In just five seasons, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook has earned a reputation as one of the league’s most elite point guards, joining the ranks of the best NBA players to never win a championship with Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.

Westbrook has been selected as an NBA All-Star and also named as a member of the All-NBA Second Team on three straight occasions, and he’s only getting better. In the 2013 Playoffs, Westbrook averaged a career postseason high of 24 points per game, and his regular season numbers have been on a steady incline as well. As we look back on his greatest games, including triple-doubles and high scoring performances, these are The Sneakers Worn for Russell Westbrook's Defining Moments.

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things ’90s, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and SneakerHead

Nike Power Max

Game: March 2, 2009 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Stats:
17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists

For Westbrook’s first career triple-double, he wore the Nike Power Max, a model which was usually seen on bigger guys like Greg Oden. The Power Max kept it simple with a synthetic leather upper, internal rib cage, and heavy-duty Air Max cushioning.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/David Sherman and Sneaker News

Nike Zoom Kobe IV

Game: February 21, 2010 at Minnesota Timberwolves
Stats: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists

Almost a year after his first triple-double, Russell Westbrook lit up the Timberwovles with 22 points, 10 boards, and 14 assists. With numbers like those, it was becoming clear that Westbrook was a premier player, and in this game he took a page out of another one of the game’s elite guards with the Nike Zoom Kobe IV.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Ron Hoskins and SoleCollector

Nike Hyperfuse PE

Game: November 26, 2010 at Indiana Pacers
Stats: 43 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists

If a single game can be pinpointed as Westbrook’s breakout moment, it was this 43 point showing against the Indiana Pacers in November of 2010 that cemented him as one of the NBA’s top point guards. Fittingly, he wore one of his first official player exclusive styles, the Nike Hyperfuse “Away” PE. Westbrook was one of a handful of players chosen to represent this groundbreaking model in 2010.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and NikeBlog

Nike Air Max Fly By PE

Game: December 31, 2010 vs. Atlanta Hawks
Stats: 23 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists

Just days after Christmas, Westbrook might as well have dumped coal in Atlanta’s stocking after dropping his third career triple double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. To get it done, he wore another one of his earlier PE models, the Nike Air Max Fly By in an incredibly rare “Thunder Home” white makeup. The Air Max Fly By was built with a breathable Hyperfuse upper, Air Max heel cushioning, and an ankle strap for lockdown.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and NikeBlog

Nike Air Max Fly By PE

Game: January 13, 2011 vs. Orlando Magic
Stats: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists

Less than two weeks after Russell Westbrook’s third career triple double against the Hawks, he came back again in the Nike air Max Fly By PE to drop even bigger numbers on the Orlando Magic. Westbrook had 32 points, 10 boards, and 13 assists for good measure, recording his fourth triple-double in his third season.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and NikeBlog

Nike Air Max Fly By PE

Game: January 28, 2011 vs. Washington Wizards
Stats: 35 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists

Best month ever? Laced once again in his trusty Nike Air Max Fly By PE, Westbrook had the fifth triple-double of his career, which was also his third in less than a month during this January 2011 game against Washington. Even more, they were the best triple-double numbers of his career.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Ronald Martinez and Underground Soles

Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE

Game: May 15, 2011 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Stats: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists

After a string of impressive triple-doubles in the Nike Air Max Fly By PE, Westbrook slowed down for a few months. During Game 7 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs, he was back at it in the Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE, dropping a humble 14 points, 10 boards, and 10 dimes on Memphis as the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals. The Hyperfuse 2011 picked up where the original model left off with a more strategic approach to the placement of the Hyperfuse tech.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and Underground Soles

Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE

Game: February 19, 2012 vs. Denver Nuggets
Stats: 40 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists

Almost a full year after unveiling the Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE, Russell Westbrook stuck with the breathable, Zoom Air-cushioned model for much of the 2011-12 NBA season. In February of 2012, he hit 40 points for the second time in his career against the Denver Nuggets and kept up his play-making ways with 9 assists.

Russell Westbrook
Image via Getty Images/Layne Murdoch and Underground Soles

Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE

Game: March 23, 2012 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Stats: 45 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists

Russell Westbrook’s second career triple-double came in February 2010 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and late in the 2011-12 NBA season, he gave the Wolves another night to remember with a career-high 45 points. A little over a month after his second career 40+ point game, Westbrook once against laced up the Nike Hyperfuse 2011 PE for one of his most successful stretches of play.

Russell Westbrook
Image via USA Today

Jordan XX8 PE

Game: March 30, 2013 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Stats: 23 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists

In October of 2012, Russell Westbrook signed with Jordan Brand and wasted little time in debuting player exclusive colorways of the Jumpman’s latest performance (and retro) models. For the most recent triple-double of Westbrook’s career, he wore the shrouded Jordan XX8 PE. This model made use of the innovative Flight Plate technology and provided basketball fans with some of the most unique designs the sneaker world has ever seen.

Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and all things ’90s, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.

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