Thunder: Strange all-NBA voting

In terms of ballplaying, I guess my favorite Thunders are Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins. I mean, there’s nothing not to love about Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka is one of the all-time great stories, and I love any defender like Thabo, and, well, I could keep going on.

But for whatever reason, I’m partial to Westbrook and Perkins. Loved Westbrook from the start, when he was a wild, unbroken rookie. Loved Perk as soon as he hit town scowling, talking about nothing but winning and how games are won.

Perkins is the most interesting guy on the team to talk to. Nick Collison and Nazr Mohammed are next in line; what is it about the big guys?

Anyway, to me, Westbrook and Perkins are the two most compelling figures on the team. Which made the all-NBA team, announced Thursday, fascinating.

during game five of the Western Conference semifinals between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA basketball playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Westbrook: second-team all-NBA.

Perkins: three points in the voting.

All I can say is wow. First, Westbrook. After a meteoric rise from unsung draft pick to promising rookie to emerging star to these NBA playoffs where Westbrook has become a lightning rod for debate and discourse, Westbrook’s status was confirmed with the voting. Superstar. One of the 10 best players in the NBA.