From The Vault: Russell Westbrook's time as a UCLA Bruin

Before he was a triple-double machine and MVP candidate, Russell Westbrook was a little-known UCLA Bruin.

Before Russell Westbrook was a triple-double machine and MVP candidate, he was turning heads at UCLA alongside Kevin Love. After averaging just nine minutes a game his freshman year (2006-07) as a backup to Darren Collison, Westbrook broke out his sophomore year, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals in leading the Bruins back to the Final Four. As Maniac Russ, his alter-ego discussed in Lee Jenkins recent profile of the Thunder point guard, prepares for the playoffs, we look back at his two-year career at UCLA.

2006 Maui Invitational (UCLA vs. Georgia Tech) :: Greg Nelson/SI

Texas at UCLA, Dec. 2007 :: Robert Beck/SI

UCLA at Arizona, March 2008 (Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love) :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 NCAA West Regional Playoffs (Michael Clark and Russell Westbrook) :: Robert Beck/SI

Stanford at UCLA, March 2008 (Russell Westbrook and Robin Lopez) :: John W. McDonough/SI

Stanford at UCLA, March 2008 :: Robert Beck/SI

2008 NCAA West Regional Playoffs :: Robert Beck/SI

2008 NCAA West Regional Playoffs :: Robert Beck/SI

2008 NCAA West Regional Playoffs (James Keefe, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Kevin Love, Josh Shipp, and Russell Westbrook) :: Robert Beck/SI

2008 Elite Eight :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Elite Eight :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Elite Eight (Russell Westbrook and Sean Miller) :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Final Four :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Final Four :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Final Four :: John W. McDonough/SI

2008 Final Four :: John Biever/SI