It is safe to say that Russell Westbrook, in his prime, was one of the most exciting point guards the NBA has ever seen. From his explosive athleticism and performance to his intensity and passion during games, Westbrook was truly spectacular in every sense.
Yet Westbrook’s greatness is often overlooked in modern point guard debates. To address this, Westbrook’s former teammate Raymond Felton defended him on an episode of “To The Baha“.
“The fact that you don’t put Russ in there, and he averaged triple-doubles with the scores he did, are you serious right now?” Felton said in reference to Westbrook’s rank among modern point guards.
Co-host and former NBA player Charlie Villanueva chimed in by highlighting the guard’s incredible achievements, including the feat of averaging a triple-double over a season multiple times. Felton continued:
“The man has been hated on and put to the side his whole entire career. This ain’t nothing he’s not used to. But how can you just disrespect the man and his loyalty that he had to OKC?”
“Even when KD left, in that moment, he still stayed loyal. And what he did the next year when KD left? Everybody’s not going to have the greatest year, so when he went to the Lakers, that was whatever; everybody just wants to talk about that and hold him to that. How are you going to hold him to that when he was doing so much greatness prior to that?”
Following Kevin Durant’s departure in 2016, Westbrook went on an unbelievable run. The guard recorded a triple-double over three consecutive seasons, posting 26.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game overall. A truly remarkable feat.
Felton boldly stated that Westbrook’s illustrious career was unfairly tarnished by commentators and individuals in the media who choose to ignore his greatness to form their own narratives.
In reality, Westbrook would undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. With nine All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA selections, three assists titles, two scoring titles, and the 2016-17 MVP award, the guard’s place in history was ultimately cemented after being selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The Next Generation Look Up To Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has been an inspiration to several players. The guard’s high-octane style of play, paired with his unique playmaking skills, made him a template for many young players to follow.
In this regard, Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young gave props to Westbrook while appearing on the “From The Point” podcast. When asked about his dream matchup coming into the NBA, he’d said:
“It was Russ, just because of OKC and all that stuff. Russ is just a big mentor. It was Russ for me”.
Young’s ties to the University of Oklahoma made Russell Westbrook the immediate NBA superstar in his orbit. Given that Westbrook’s prime years were spent with the Thunder, it is clear why Young views the nine-time All-Star as a mentor.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, unfortunately, Westbrook finds himself in an uncertain situation. With limited interest shown from teams in free agency and a desire for a contract worth more than the veteran’s minimum, the nine-time All-Star could realistically remain unsigned at the start of the season.
