Russell Westbrook’s true breakout moment in Houston didn’t come the night he scored 41 points on the Lakers, nor when he scored 40 on the Clippers.
It wasn’t when he amassed more points in the paint than anyone not named Shaquille O’Neal in the last two decades.
It wasn’t even when he juggled bouncing his son, Noah, on his lap and shared the All-Star stage with James Harden, this time as season-long Rockets teammates rather than just for the weekend.
Westbrook’s introduction to Houston didn’t involve any of that. In fact, on that cold, pouring wet day in August, it didn’t really involve him, either. At least not physically.
It was the final day in what had been a successful JH-Town weekend, a Houston tradition started by Harden and his inner circle in an effort to give back to the fans and the community that has supported him for nearly a decade.
The rain had come early and seemingly out of…
