Image via Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps we should have seen Russell Westbrook's triple-double season coming. No other player approaches the game with as much tenacity and plays every possession like it's his last. Factor in his world-class talent and knack for filling up the stat sheets and it's the perfect recipe for a history-making campaign.
Westbrook made his intentions for the season known from the jump. After his Thunder Buddy decided to bolt for a layup line-chance at a ring with the rivals, he was free to do whatever the hell he wanted. It turns out that what he wanted to do was to become the modern day "Big O," while leading what was left of the squad back to the postseason. Game after game, Westbrook hit the double-digit mark in points, rebounds, and assists, making it pretty hard to argue against him as the league MVP in the process. In a game against the Denver Nuggets on April 9, he recorded his record-breaking 42nd triple-double of the season, then capped off a 14-point 4th quarter rally with a 36-foot game-winner at the buzzer.
Fittingly, Westbrook made history in Air Jordans. Not just any Air Jordans—the Air Jordans. The flagship game shoe, while technologically advanced, hasn't had much historical context since Michael Jordan called it quits in 2003. Both Dwyane Wade and Westbrook have led the line at different points since, but this season marks the first time that a post-retirement Air Jordan will truly have significance beyond the logo it bears.
Of course, because he does what he wants, Westbrook's Air Jordan 31 is a little different. Citing issues with the shoe's flexibility, he requested that his personal pairs be made with the tooling of the Air Jordan 30. So, beyond the preseason, he never played in a retail version of the sneaker—at least not until Jordan Brand decided to release his "Why Not?" PE in celebration of his unforgettable season.
It's never too early to reflect on history, so here's a look back at every pair of Air Jordans that Westbrook wore during his triple-double performances this season. Things began with a simple PE in white and orange, which turned out to be the colorway he wore for 10 triple-doubles, the most of any single style. Number 42, his last of the season, happened in a black and orange pair. Read on for the full game-by-game breakdown.
Oct. 28, 2016
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 51 Points, 13 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Oct. 30, 2016
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 33 Points, 11 Rebounds, 16 Assists
Nov. 13, 2016
Opponent: Orlando Magic
Colorway: Orange/White-Photo Blue
Stats: 41 Points, 12 Rebounds, 16 Assists
Nov. 18, 2016
Opponent: Brooklyn Nets
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 30 Points, 10 Rebounds, 13 Assists
Nov. 20, 2016
Opponent: Indiana Pacers
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 31 Points, 11 Rebounds, 15 Assists
Nov. 25, 2016
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 36 Points, 11 Rebounds, 17 Assists
Nov. 26, 2016
Opponent: Detroit Pistons
Colorway: Photo Blue/White-Orange
Stats: 17 Points, 13 Rebounds, 15 Assists
Nov. 28, 2016
Opponent: New York Knicks
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 27 Points, 17 Rebounds, 14 Assists
Nov. 30, 2016
Opponent: Washington Wizards
Colorway: Photo Blue/White-Orange
Stats: 35 Points, 14 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Dec. 4, 2016
Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 28 Points, 17 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Dec. 5, 2016
Opponent: Atlanta Hawks
Colorway: Blackout
Stats: 32 Points, 13 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Dec. 9, 2016
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 27 Points, 10 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Dec. 17, 2016
Opponent: Phoenix Suns
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 26 Points, 11 Rebounds, 22 Assists
Dec. 23, 2016
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 45 Points, 11 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Dec. 27, 2016
Opponent: Miami Heat
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 29 Points, 17 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Dec. 31, 2016
Opponent: Los Angeles Clippers
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 17 Points, 12 Rebounds, 14 Assists
Jan. 7, 2017
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 32 Points, 17 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Jan. 11, 2017
Opponent: Memphis Grizzlies
Colorway: White/Orange
Stats: 24 Points, 13 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Jan. 13, 2017
Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 21 Points, 11 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Jan. 15, 2017
Opponent: Sacramento Kings
Colorway: Blackout
Stats: 36 Points, 11 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Jan. 18, 2017
Opponent: Golden State Warriors
Colorway: Blackout
Stats: 27 Points, 15 Rebounds, 13 Assists
Jan. 23, 2017
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Colorway: Orange/White-Photo Blue
Stats: 38 Points, 11 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Jan. 25, 2017
Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans
Colorway: Blackout
Stats: 27 Points, 12 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Jan. 29, 2017
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Colorway: Blackout
Stats: 20 Points, 12 Rebounds, 10 Assists
Feb. 3, 2017
Opponent: Memphis Grizzlies
Colorway: Photo Blue/White-Orange
Stats: 38 Points, 13 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Feb. 9, 2017
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Colorway: Photo Blue/White-Orange
Stats: 29 Points, 12 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Feb. 15, 2017
Opponent: New York Knicks
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 38 Points, 14 Rebounds, 12 Assists
Feb. 24, 2017
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 17 Points, 18 Rebounds, 17 Assists
Feb. 26, 2017
Opponent: New Orleans Pelicans
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 41 Points, 11 Rebounds, 11 Assists
Feb. 28, 2017
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 43 Points, 11 Rebounds, 10 Assists
March 9, 2017
Opponent: San Antonio Spurs
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 23 Points, 13 Rebounds, 13 Assists
March 11, 2017
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 33 Points, 11 Rebounds, 14 Assists
March 14, 2017
Opponent: Brooklyn Nets
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 25 Points, 12 Rebounds, 19 Assists
March 16, 2017
Opponent: Toronto Raptors
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 24 Points, 10 Rebounds, 16 Assists
March 22, 2017
Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 19 Points, 11 Rebounds, 14 Assists
March 26, 2017
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 39 Points, 11 Rebounds, 13 Assists
March 27, 2017
Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 37 Points, 13 Rebounds, 10 Assists
March 29, 2017
Opponent: Orlando Magic
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 57 Points, 13 Rebounds, 11 Assists
March 31, 2017
Opponent: San Antonio Spurs
Colorway: White/Blue
Stats: 32 Points, 15 Rebounds, 12 Assists
April 2, 2017
Opponent: Charlotte Hornets
Colorway: White/Black-Orange
Stats: 40 Points, 13 Rebounds, 10 Assists
April 4, 2017
Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks
Colorway: White/Black-Orange
Stats: 12 Points, 13 Rebounds, 13 Assists
April. 9, 2017
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
Colorway: Black/Orange
Stats: 50 Points, 16 Rebounds, 10 Assists
