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Russell Westbrook: 'I don't play for All-Star bids'

By The Sports Xchange
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (L) shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (R) defends during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, USA, 18 January 2017. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
1 of 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (L) shoots as Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (R) defends during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, USA, 18 January 2017. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Triple-double king Russell Westbrook isn't angry about being left out of the starting lineup for the NBA All-Star Game. At least the Oklahoma City Thunder guard wasn't saying so publicly on Friday.

"It is what it is," Westbrook said. "That's the nature of the business, the game. I just play. I don't play for All-Star bids. I play to win championships, and every night I compete at a high level, and it'll work out.

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"I just continue doing what I'm doing and play the game the right way, and everything else will work out."

Westbrook lost a tiebreaker with Golden State's Stephen Curry and Houston's James Harden for the starting guard spots on the Western Conference game in a new voting system that includes players, fans and media members.

Westbrook was first in the media vote and player vote but third among the fans. Curry and Harden received more fan votes and that was the tiebreaker.

"(Winning the players' vote) doesn't change anything for me," Westbrook said. "It's a great honor ... and being an All-Star is something you don't take for granted.

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"But like I said, I don't play to play in the All-Star (Game). ... I play to become a better player and to win championships."

Westbrook is averaging an NBA-best 30.6 points and also 10.4 assists and 10.6 rebounds per game. He posted triple-doubles in 21 games this season. He's the first player to average a triple-double this late in a season since 1963-64.

Thunder coach Bill Donovan obviously is a big Westbrook fan.

"I don't want to take away anything from anybody because I'm obviously not with all those players on a regular basis," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "But in my opinion, there's no way he should not be starting in an All-Star Game.

"That's it. Someone can say, 'Well, who then?' I'm not getting into that. I'm saying what he's done this year. Here's a guy, in my opinion, clearly is right in the thick of the MVP race for the entire league. So there in itself, I think everybody would admit that."

NBA players reacted in disbelief that Westbrook is not starting. Former All-Star Kevin Garnett called it the biggest snub in All-Star history. Even Curry offered a comment.

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"It's a big storyline because those two guys are doing amazing things this year," Curry said of Westbrook and Harden, according to ESPN.com. "There's only two spots you can fill. Unfortunately, somebody was going to get left out. I've been on the other side of that four years ago. It's how it goes."

The other Western Conference starters are Golden State's Kevin Durant, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans' Anthony Davis.

The reserves will be chosen Thursday for the Feb. 19 All-Star game in New Orleans.

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