Russell Westbrook | No. 35 | Nick Wright's Top 50 NBA Players of the Last 50 Years | What's Wright? 

It's Rose.

@@Christopher._M no it's not. It COULD HAVE BEEN Rose but unfortunately he got injured. Russ has maintained his athleticism for 14+years, plus he's bigger, faster & stronger than Rose.

@@billpap.9669westbrook was bigger and stronger but never faster. Go check rose 50 minute highlight video on youtube and tell me westbrook was more athletic. Athleticism isn't about sustaining it for long. A bugatti can run 270+ miles but will break down before a Nissan GTR. Is the nissan a faster car just because it runs longer without breaking down? That's ridiculous. I saw them both play. Rose was faster, more explosive, better body control, higher vertical, and better deceleration/momentum changes. Westbrook definitely had more power and size but that's the only thing he had over rose. If you want to say that made him more athletic that's your opinion but he was never faster than rose during those years that rose was 100%

@@Christopher._M ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-axfuXEBa-Bo.html

@@Christopher._M never seen Rose do that...also why would a 3-5 year run from Rose when he was healthy make him the most athletic PG IN HISTORY??? Again...Russ has sustained his athleticism for 14+ years and we're talking ALL TIME here. Like I said Rose COULD'VE BEEN the most athletic PG ever if he didn't get injured and stayed the same for at least 10 years but unfortunately his ATHLETIC prime was too SHORT.

Because this generation see him playing, not looking at meaningless numbers. If great players are defined by playing hard every night, giving some unbelieve hightlights sure Russ definitely is one of them... But if you view only play-off wins and rings matter, Russ is nowhere near top 50...

Icon ? No

@@cuongngo485 You say that like everybody has won rings. He’s been to the finals and won many playoffs games. By your logic CP3 doesn’t sniff top 50 either.

@Fire Haze True but Westbrook will be remembered far longer in history over CP3, because he has something ICONIC that no one has done, especially if he doesn’t get a ring.

Definitely not top 35 all time... but maybe last 50 years.

No he’s not it was literally just this season

@@BT405 you should go watch some old videos of analysts talking about Westbrook even during his MVP season, I think it would change your mind

@@GenGraalEra analysts criticizing him is different from the entire nba fanbase calling him a bum

He couldn’t win with, KD, PG, HARDEN ,LEBRON, or AD , at what point is Russell the common denominator in superstars not wanting to play with him and losing

Hey bra. I know this is months later but I’ve been working on dissecting this myself and with my friends for years, wondering if you have a take: in a scientific approach, I can’t seem to be able to make sense of why the teams record was so good when Russ got a triple double. It almost doesn’t seem …possible? To be such a good record. You know? Heck, I don’t care if it’s LeBron, but a player getting 1 or 2 more rebounds and 1 or 2 more assists simply shouldn’t have such an impact on winning! But some crazy way it did for the thunder. You know? Because if we look at all of the games, for example, in 2016/17, the games Russ DIDNt get a triple double are still practically the same on average! He just was a couple rebounds or a couple assits shy here and there. So it makes NO logical sense to me why him getting the nice round two digit number in those categories actually had such an impact on winning. Part of me thinks the best way to label it is simply just statistical phenomenon or an aberration or anomaly. What do you think? I’ve even gone as far as to consider if perhaps Russ was so obsessed with getting the triple double as validation for each game to be considered a success for him that it caused him to sort of he able to relax and focus more at the end of games in the games where he had already accrued the triple double. Compared to the games where he didn’t achieve the triple double by the end of the 4th quarter and somehow that impacted his ability to put his entire focus on winning basketball plays? Idk! I know that sounds crazy I’m just always trying to make sense of it. I watched SO much Russ that year, even in person. It was hard to watch him play and not, while also being impressed, feel a little bit grossed out at times for the way he was playing for statistics with the rebound hunting. That being said, the “shot chucking” and assist hunting? Idk, I’m not sure that actually did any damage at all! It seemed to mostly be worth him chucking so many shots in the hopes that he would catch fire, because when he did he would take over games for 2 or 3 minute stretches. His passing, as much as it did seem forced at times, created so many open 3 point attempts and espeically easy dunks and layups for Steven as they had developed such a great report in the 2 man screen and roll game. I don’t know anything for sure, though! Maybe it’s as simple as this: Russ made himself the make or break of the team. So, if he played like his best self, they were going to win( and his best self ended up always being a huge triple double). If he didn’t play at his best, they stood almost zero shot at winning. So in a way, by being such an enormous focus of the team, he inextricably tied the outcome of his individual performance with the outcome of the teams goal of winning. Perhaps it’s that simple I wpild love to hear your thoughts!

Yea for the last 50 years its not a bad spot but if its an all time rankings he drops to at least 55 still great though.

@@jacobsvetich8735 nah 55 is too low. His resume is stronger than half the players of all time. Top 10 in career points, assist,rebounds, steals at his position. More finals appearances and conference appearances too better playoff record than alot of ppl

hey editors of this channel, there is also a part of the algorithm that takes into account channel momentum...cluttering your channel with videos that get way less views than your normal episodes hurts your channel's momentum...instead of a steadily rising channel you see this see-saw effect which gets your channel recommended less often

Thats so disrespectful to roy jones don’t ever compare him to russ

Nah.

@@onedone2011 Very astute.

Awful comparison. Truly miserable.

@@chasingfelix3609 More of a jab at nick, not a serious comment. The better comparison is Kobe because Kobe has the mentality of Russ along with the skill of an actual basketball player.

Means absolutely nothing. He doesn't play winning basketball..........which is the whole point........to win.

That’s false his teams win more when he gets triple doubles he’s been further in the playoffs than other stars

@@alananderson7903 How many guys in your top 50 have even won anything significant in their career. I understand winning matter but let’s not take away from the greatness of players who didn’t win as much as they should in their career

Not now. People hate him so much he can barely get credit as is, but I agree.

As he should coming from a Russ fan

Russ> CP3 All time

@@billycornish6646 CP3 > Russ all time, Russ > CP3 in their peak

Bruh. Shut up

AD and Bron not playing hurt the team way more than Russ did

You crazy if you think lebron or ad is doing something wrong Westbrook wasn’t even a all star🤣

Russ is all nba worst team not all nba 1st team

Every other great player can have a bad year. Why can't he? It's not about anyone's feelings or the Lakers. It's about his career as a whole.

Quite the contrary, it will be very kind to him.

@@brandonrice2833 idk In about 10 years people are gonna really start looking at his triple double seasons. A lot of those games he had terrible shooting percentages and or 2-3 rebounds he just straight stole from Steven Adams

@Big Problem I think people over value that. I mean 50 years ago Oscar Robison averaged a triple double during an entire season as well. And we barely ever hear about it anymore

@@honcore1443 the triple double stuff doesn’t matter imo, it’s an arbitrary stat. But the other stuff does matter, mvp, scoring champ, etc. Like Nick said he had some pretty epic playoff performances earlier on and while he is Westbrick now he had some seasons where he shot respectably as well. I dunno if I’d have him as high as 35 but he deserves to be on the list

@@honcore1443 they won 73% of the games he had triple doubles..... Thats a 60 win pace. So much for the stupid narrative that him getting triple doubles were to the detriment of his team.

Cap. Harden is a much better playmaker, ball handler, finisher, shooter, ft shooter, mid range shooter etc. Also plays winning basketball and has done more with less. Russ wasn't even the best player on his team when he got paul george and melo withem 🤣😂 nonsense

@@marcelsansalone3829 you're mentioning Melo like he was prime Denver/NY Melo and not washed at the time. Stop it.

@@billpap.9669 he averaged 21 the year prior lol stop it

@@marcelsansalone3829 averaged 16ppg on 40%fg and trash defense in OKC. Looked washed and Utah took advantage of him in the playoffs. YOU STOP IT.

@@billpap.9669 so instead of debate my point u try to deflect and bring up him averaging 16pts with westbrick on his team? Like melo didn't make the all star team the year prior to joining? 🤣😂 westbrick fans i swear, yall make me laugh bruh 💀

Nick lost me with this selection lol Russ over Clyde drexler is crazy

Has a higher peak overall. Over Drexler makes no sense though.

How is the main reason for his team’s losing? Without Russ OKC would’ve been nothing

It’s actually quite disrespectful to put Harden in same category as the other 2. 17/18 Rockets were statistically one of the best teams of all time and were the only team legitimately able to beat the OP Warriors. If the league was balanced during Hardens prime he has at least 1 ring.

@@lovejoy131 By the NUMBERS you can make a case Harden is better than Wade but if you actually watched basketball you'll know thats 100% false & thats exactly what I mean by this "inflated stat era" making certain players look better than they really were

@@Tonio5100 I’m not referring to the numbers I’m referring to the fact that Harden was the MVP of one of the best teams ever statistically. The trio of Harden, CP3 and Capella had a 50-5 record in regular season and playoffs before the 2018 conference finals and also had the ridiculously overpowered Warriors down 3-2. If the league was balanced during Hardens prime he wins at least 1 title.

@@lovejoy131 "I'm not referring to the numbers" then proceed to say Harden was the MVP of one of the best teams STATICALLY..... Statically is NUMBERS!!!!!!!!! 🤷🏾‍♂️ You trying to have a completely different conversation from the one I'm presenting...... Who's better Harden or Wade?

@@Tonio5100 I’m talking about the Rockets statically not Hardens individual stats. If we are going to refer to Hardens individual stats then let’s not act like he wouldn’t be an elite player in any era. He averaged 26/6/5 in 12/13 in his first season as a starter. My argument is not comparing Harden to Wade it is pointing out how ridiculous it is to compare Harden to Westbrook and Trae Young. D Wade won his first title in a balanced league and Harden would have too if given the opportunity.

he did lead the wizards to the playoffs. they played the sixers in round one

OK so he hasn't had the playoff success he should have post KD and I agree he underperformed in some playoff games but the guy has still made it to the Finals at 23 and the WCF 3 other times. That's still on his resume. Can't ignore it or dismiss it.

dennis pulliam I don’t know what people are talking about sometimes.lol.

@@lakers24451 didn't they lose in the play-in tournament to the Celtics

@@lekzintshering7666 no they didn't and beal was hurt for a period of that season

Bro stop read his resume. His peak is without a doubt top 40 all time stop it bro this is ridiculous

Westbrook is easily top 35, you sound silly.

Completely agree, ruined the credibility of the MVP award when he won it over Harden for averaging 2 more rebounds despite having 9 less wins.

Harden was also a stat padder tbf although it had more to do how the coach used him rather than just running around trying to pad every stat

@@lovejoy131 Russ that year broke a historical previously thought of as unbreakable record, averaged 31-11-10, led the league in scoring, PER, box plus/minus, VORP & 4th qtr/clutch scoring (one of the most clutch seasons ever statistically) while carrying that bad OKC team to near 50 wins in the loaded West. Harden played in D'antoni's system and had all the right pieces around him...spacing, shooting, athletic bigs etc. Russ was better than Harden but Houston was a better TEAM than OKC.

That's ridiculous. I won't deny that he makes low iq mistakes but the problem with his critics is y'all use an argument that proves that he isn't top 30 to say that he isn't top 50. I dare you to name 50 better players. Tmac has never made it out the first round PERIOD nor does his accomplishments matchup. Nash may have won more MVPs and assist titles but he has NEVER made it to the finals. You CANNOT name 50 players who are talented nor can you name 50 players who are more accomplished. And lastly everyone wants to act like KD couldn't have won with Russ but history shows KD couldn't do what he did without him.

Also He's been a winner and contender for the majority of his career. He's actually won more than Steve Nash. He's only missed the playoffs 3 times. One time as a rookie, one time during a year where he AND KD missed a combined 69 games, and this debacle of a year. And he's only been upset twice.

He was contending and winning for most of his career. Only thing he doesn’t have is a ring lmao.

@Fire Haze yeah by people who watch basketball and don’t know what they’re talking about. All great players pad their stats in certain ways because they have the ability to do it. Also your mentality is wrong. Just because someone didn’t win a ring doesn’t mean they didn’t win anything. KD has had more help than Russ and he’s only got 2. Why not 3 or 4? Same with Steph. Why not 4 or 5? If you took every great player to never win a ring and made a team out of em they’d be undefeated in the Olympics every year. He’s literally won everything there is to win except a ring and that makes him not a winner? Fans like you ruin basketball convos.

Soooooo what are really saying? He is still a SUPERSTAR. Top 35 is where he belongs. I would say he's right at 30-33. How about we look at it this way... If Russ didn't have the shooting, turnover, and inconsistent defensive flaws that he has then he would be the greatest player of all time.