NBA Power Rankings: Top 10 point guards for 2014-15

May 13, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks over San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Russell Westbrook:

2013-14 Stat Line: 46 games, 30.7 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG, .437/.318/.826 shooting, 24.7 PER

If we were basing these NBA Power Rankings solely on what happened in 2013-14, it’d be hard to justify putting Russell Westbrook this high. Although he was stellar throughout the playoffs, averaging 26.7 points, 8.1 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, he barely played half the season and had three knee procedures in a span of eight months.

That being said, this list is all about the 2014-15 season and based on what we saw from Westbrook when he did play, he was absolutely sensational. Let’s put it this way: there were times last year when Kevin Durant, the reigning MVP, wasn’t the best player on the floor. Westbrook catches a lot of criticism for taking too many shots and not getting the ball to the league’s leading scorer enough, but the people who focus on Westbrook’s flaws are missing all the things he does right.

Had Westbrook been completely healthy this season, his numbers might have looked even more impressive. Over the course of a full 82 games next year, we might get the best season we’ve seen from Westbrook in his career thus far, provided he stays healthy. His injury concerns and the limited number of games he logged last season prevents him from being No. 1, but Westbrook is one of the league’s best offensive talents, most brutally punishing defenders when he’s engaged and a freak athlete that cannot be stopped attacking the basket.

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