Michael Jordan Congratulates Russell Westbrook on MVP Win with Letter

Russell Westbrook joined an exclusive club Monday night by winning 2016-17 NBA MVP honors. After taking home the hardware, he received a brief but warm welcome from one of the group's most notable members.

Michael Jordan didn't average a triple-double to win his first of five MVP trophies in 1987-88. Yet he carried the Chicago Bulls to a 50-32 record with a league-high 35.0 points per game.

Jordan can relate to Westbrook in that his video game numbers (31.6 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds per contests) yielded just 47 wins and a first-round playoff exit for his Oklahoma City Thunder.

The six-time champion sent a congratulatory note to the Jordan Brand member, reminding Westbrook that he also won his first MVP award before snagging a championship.

The succinct letter encourages the Thunder star to "keep going" while also reminding Westbrook—and everyone else since the Jordan account shared it in an Instagram story—of his own triumphs.

Westbrook can match Jordan's drive and unrelenting energy, but he will likely need to replicate the legend's efficiency and find his own winning supporting cast before achieving similar postseason glory.

[Instagram]