14. Russell Westbrook
25.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.9 RPG, 27.6 PER
Russell Westbrook is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s only hope while Kevin Durant is out with another injury. Lately, he’s been doing everything he can, but it hasn’t been good enough or up to the level we’ve come to expect from Westbrook this season.
Over the last five games, the Thunder are just 2-3, including a devastating loss to the New York Knicks.
In the game, Westbrook scored 40 points on 30 shots, which isn’t bad, but 30 field goal attempts is a lot for anyone, especially when the Thunder have some capable scorers, like Reggie Jackson, Dion Waiters, Anthony Morrow, and Serge Ibaka on the court.
I think Westbrook is one of the best players in the league (obviously, because I ranked him 14th), but I would like to see what he could do if he used his athleticism to make life easier on his teammates and generate shots for them rather than himself.
With his penetration and leaping ability, Westbrook could legitimately be a 15-point, 15-assist player in the league, which would be so much better for the Thunder.
That’s never going to happen. Westbrook is who he is, but he has the potential to do more for his team.
Next: The All-Star Snub