The Los Angeles homecoming was far from dreamy for Russell Westbrook. Brodie was supposed to be the missing piece for the Los Angeles Lakers to make the ultimate push to the finals once again. However, the truth came out rather quickly. The nine-time All-Star had a nightmarish season in Purple and Gold colors. The once hometown star became the villain of the city. Fans damaged his legacy. They painted him to be a mere ‘stat-padder’. Coming to his aid, former Golden State Warriors guard, Nick Young made a comparison to Nikola Jokic. In hindsight, it might have been the wrong move as fans went berserk.

Achieving a triple-double is no easy feat. When Oscar Robertson set the record for 181, NBA legends gave no one a shot at the record. But they didn’t know Russell Westbrook was coming for his throne. Brodie made averaging a triple-double for the entire season an expectation. Two seasons ago, he officially became Mr. Triple Double, an achievement that will remain tied with his illustrious career forever. But fans hold the feat against him.

Followers and even several analysts have called out Westbrook over the years for chasing the stats and numbers. Many felt he prioritized a ‘triple-double’ over anything else. Now, another player is flooding the stat sheet almost regularly, none other than reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. This has left Young wondering, why don’t fans criticize Joker for doing the same?

Nick Young gets ripped apart by fans for his Russell Westbrook-Nikola Jokic take

The NBA veteran took to Twitter to vent his opinion. The 2018 NBA champion compared Jokic’s season to the times Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double. Young spoke about the differential treatment as Brodie was labeled a ‘stat-padder’ while the Denver Nuggets center is in contention to win his third straight MVP. The former Lakers star pointed out how the Joker’s triple-doubles throughout the last three seasons have been inconsequential to the Nuggets’ postseason. He said, “they do the same stuff every yr have great stats great regular season, and get they a** whoop in the playoffs but no criticism”

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Unfortunately for Young, his outburst backfired and it came down even harder. Fans felt Westbrook’s play was all selfish and pointed out his brief postseason runs. On the other hand, they mention Nikola Jokic being a favorite for the MVP award due to his impact in both the regular season and the playoffs.

Both superstars are raw competitors before anything. During Westbrook’s stretch of such seasons, he was the lone floor general for OKC. He had to adjust to life without Kevin Durant, and Brodie responded by averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per night. He had to elevate his game to MVP status to make up for the loss of a four-time scoring champion. It’s true, Westbrook’s runs in the playoffs were short, but he was nothing short of sensational. In his MVP year, the 34-year-old averaged a 37.4 points triple-double in the five postseason games. He arguably put his everything to try and win the game, and not just filling out the stats in front of his name.

Transitioning into Nikola Jokic, the star center has quickly become one of the best passers in the NBA. His eagle vision and high IQ make him one of the most lethal presences on the court. This season, he is leading the league in triple-doubles with 21. It is his first season averaging double figures all around the board, and he is doing so while making a heavy impact. With him on the floor, the Nuggets are +531 for the entire season. Denver had their best playoff run in 2020 when they made the WCF. But as the best team in the West this season, the expectations from the fans have riled up.

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Westbrook and Jokic both stepped up when needed and averaged a triple-double. Given their competitive spirit, it is only instinct that could drive them to do it all on the court. Shaming either of them might not be right, nor is choosing one over the other. For them, it all comes down to what is necessary to win a title. This season, the Joker has elevated Denver to a new plain by averaging a triple-double. All that we can wait and see is whether his style of play can take them to glory.