NBA Today: 5 Superstars who need to prove themselves in the 2019-20 season

#2 Russell Westbrook

Seeing Russell Westbrook don a jersey that doesn't say OKC will take some getting used to [Image: Houston Rockets Twitter]

No player in the NBA divides opinions just as much as Russell Westbrook does. His fans see him as an embodiment of sheer athleticism. They see him as a player, who despite his flaws, puts his body on the line every night and just plays hard basketball. His haters though, see a highly volatile individual who is more concerned about stat-padding than team goals.

It's no exaggeration when I say this, but no one, absolutely no one envisioned Westbrook representing a jersey other than the OKC blue before offseason began. But the wheels started turning with the Paul George trade and in the end, Oklahoma City Thunder decided that it was best to let Russell chase a ring somewhere else as the franchise entered a full-blown rebuild.

A lot has been spoken about how Mr. Triple Double is a player who simply cannot adapt to the needs of his franchise and is a difficult teammate to play with. While Westbrook does deserve much of the criticism that comes his way, I also believe that he is the most slandered player in the NBA right now. Just to delve deeper, just how many of his teammates have made any mention of Russ being a bad teammate? None.

It's about time Westbrook proved a point. With James Harden being the cornerstone of the Houston Rockets, it is Russ who will be expected to fit in. It is Russ, who needs to prove that he can adapt. This is perhaps the best set of teammates Westbrook has around him in a while and he must put in his best foot forward to elevate the franchise. He must, along with Harden of course, prove to the world that he has what it takes to win an NBA Championship.