Russell Westbrook Earns Ninth All-Star Game Selection

Westbrook is one of two players in NBA history to win back-to-back All-Star Game MVPs.

Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook was selected as a Western Conference All-Star on Thursday, reaching the All-Star Game for the ninth time in his career.

Westbrook has been named an All-Star in each of the last six seasons. He has gone just one year without an All-Star appearance since 2010-11, missing the All-Star Game in February 2014 after undergoing season-ending knee surgery in December 2013. 

Making his 9th #NBAAllStar appearance... Russell Westbrook of the @HoustonRockets.

Drafted as the 4th pick in 2008 out of UCLA, @russwest44 is averaging 26.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG and 7.4 APG for the Rockets this season. pic.twitter.com/LBl7Nske2s

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 31, 2020

Westbrook's nine All-Star selections gives him the fifth-most All-Star appearances among active players. LeBron James leads all active players with 16 All-Star Game appearances. 

Houston now has two All-Stars for the first time since Dwight Howard and James Harden shared the floor for the Western Conference in 2014. Harden was named an All-Star Game starter for the fourth consecutive year on Jan. 23, and he's been an All-Star in each of his eight seasons with the Rockets. 

Harden trails only Hakeem Olajuwon for the most All-Star Game appearances in Rockets history.

Westbrook has a penchant for big performances in All-Star Game competition. He is the one of two players (joining Bob Pettit) to ever win back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards, earning the honor in 2015 and 2016. The UCLA product ranks No. 5 in made threes and No. 12 in points in All-Star Game history. 

Houston's point guard is in the midst of a dominant stretch despite the Rockets' struggles of late. Westbrook is averaging 32.2 points and eight assists per game since Dec. 31, and he's shooting 52.6% from the field in his last 11 contests. He finished the Rockets' loss to the Blazers on Wednesday with 39 points on 16-29 shooting.