Thunder's Westbrook making 3-point shooting 'offseason focus'

Oklahoma City Thunder star point guard Russell Westbrook has made improving his 3-point shot an offseason focus, according to ESPN reporter Royce Young.

Appearing on the latest addition of The Lowe Post, Young -- who covers the Thunder for ESPN -- says Westbrook has been focusing his training this summer on becoming a better 3-point shooter.

"He's been working on it this summer, I've been told," Young said. "That's been a big time offseason focus for him."

In his 10-year career, Westbrook has shot 31.1 percent from three. The best percentage he has shot from beyond the arc was during the 2016-17 season, when he hit 34.3 percent.

Young also noted that the Thunder want Westbrook to become a more efficient 3-point shooter by shooting catch-and-shoot threes. OKC traded for Dennis Schroder, who is one of the best slashers in the game, so when Schroder and Paul George are attacking the basket and collapsing the defense, Westbrook should have wide-open looks from deep.

Per NBA.com, Westbrook shot 34.2 percent from distance on catch-and-shoot threes in 2017-18.

The Thunder lost to the Utah Jazz in the first-round of the 2018 playoffs in six games. Besides acquiring Schroder, OKC also signed big man Nerlens Noel and traded for forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

The departure of Carmelo Anthony should make the Thunder's offense more effective. OKC had an offensive rating of 98.6 when Anthony was on the court during the postseason compared to 116.8 when he was on the bench.