NBA Power Rankings: Ranking All 30 Starting Point Guards

3.  Russell Westbrook — Oklahoma City Thunder

Passer Rating:  144.85 (7th)

Per-36 minutes:  28.1 points, 8.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 4.4 turnovers.  42.6% field goals, 29.9% 3-pointers, 83.5% free throws.

True Shooting Percentage:  53.6% (11th)

Player Efficiency Rating:  29.12 (1st)

Real Plus-Minus:  7.08 (2nd)

Wins Above Replacement:  14.15 (3rd)

If you tell someone they can’t achieve something, the first thing you look for is their reaction, either on the spot or in future events. Tell Michael Jordan he can’t return at age 40 and average 20 points in the modern NBA. Tell Kobe Bryant he can’t win a championship without Shaq, or score 62 points in three quarters. Tell Kevin Durant he can’t average a line of 32-7-5. Watch what happens.

The worst feeling in the world would be standing in front of them once they accomplish it, while they stare you down and give you a mouthful.

Russell Westbrook operates with the same character. With the same mental drive. With the same fortitude.

If you tell Oklahoma City’s 6’3″ demon that he can’t do something — like, get the Thunder to the playoffs with his partner-in-crime missing 55 games — you’ll be setting the stage for one heart-racing moment.

There was no better treat for NBA paramours last year than sitting back, grabbing some pizza or popcorn, and watching Westbrook single-handedly bring the Thunder back into contention. After a rocky first couple months (with Westbrook breaking his hand and Scott Brooks trying to remain calm and not have a heart attack), Oklahoma City found themselves well under .500 in the standings. If you manage that in the West, it’s nothing but an uphill battle from hell to reach the playoffs.

Nonetheless, Westbrook nearly put the whole state of Oklahoma on his back. For only being 200 pounds, his shoulders were able to handle the load. Nothing is ever “too much” for this guy, and sometimes that includes shot attempts.

I’ve never fully understood the criticism behind his eagerness on offense. I’ve understood part of it, but not in the total realm of what people argue a basketball player is “supposed to be.”

Sure, he takes a boatload of shots, with or without Durant there to mitigate it. Last season, Westbrook went on a rampage because there weren’t many reliable scorers available. And when you’re trying to win games to climb back in the hunt, what good does it do for the most skilled player on your team to shy away from his greatness?

Westbrook was didn’t let the critics stop him, as he finished the 2014-15 season with one of the most belligerent 67-game résumés ever. In the last 70 years, there had only been two “guards” to take over 32 shots on a per-100 possession basis. Westbrook fiddled around and become the third:

• Kobe Bryant (2005-06) — 35 attempts per 100 possessions
• Allen Iverson (2001-02) — 34.4 attempts per 100 possessions
• Allen Iverson (2000-01) — 32.2 attempts per 100 possessions
• Russell Westbrook (2014-15) — 32.1 attempts per 100 possessions

Bryant is obviously a shooting guard. If you’re one of those people who classify Iverson as a shooting guard as well, then Westbrook just became the first “point guard” to enter this territory.

But, you know what … it’s nothing to ridicule him for in regards to last season.

Oklahoma City finished the season with an identical record as the New Orleans Pelicans (45-37), and they had a better point-differential (+2.2) than New Orleans (+0.8). Although they couldn’t sneak into the playoffs because of a tie-breaker, that is ALL because of Westbrook. Keep in mind, Durant didn’t play a single game after the NBA’s trade deadline.

At the Feb. 19 mark, the Thunder were 29-25, just learning about Sam Presti shutting down Durant for the rest of the year. In the aftermath of knowing opposing teams would be hounding OKC’s only star, Westbrook still led them to a 16-12 record to close the season.

People may scoff at that, saying it’s barely over the .500 mark. But, those are the people who don’t quite get it. When you’re the only dominant horse out there for your team, having to go against stellar competition night after night, you wouldn’t expect Westbrook to keep them afloat by himself. If he hadn’t been shooting those 32 shots per 100 possessions, he’d be holding his team back from potential wins.

Because even with extensive volume, he still finished with a true shooting percentage of 53.6% — 11th of all starting point guards. So, how much was he really shooting his team into a grave? There was only one instance where it became excessive for me (and killed OKC’s chance at sneaking in). That was in the matchup vs. Indiana, where Westbrook took 43 shots in only 40 minutes — the first time in NBA history anyone has managed it.

This wasn’t a one-headed monster, though. He wasn’t a one-trick pony.

On top of having the biggest scoring outburst of his 7-year career, Westbrook also displayed the most versatility of any point guard last season. People scream, moan, and whine that he’s not a “pure point guard” or a gifted passer, but his 7th overall ranking in Passer Rating puts that in a coffin.

He generated the 4th-most points off assists (per 100 possessions) last season, because he’s not blind to making the correct read. When it comes time to making decisions off the high pick-and-roll, he’ll help you more than kill you:

He’s not a cancerous passer that’s just out there slinging the ball around for assists. That’s the perception some folks have about him. Westbrook accrued 31 double-doubles last season — eight more than Stephen Curry’s 23, but nine less than Chris Paul’s 40. In triple-doubles, however, his 11 amazing performances completely blew out the next player in line (James Harden with four). Those 11 triple-doubles were also the most in one specific season since the 2007-08 year, when Jason Kidd completed 13.

Westbrook’s ability to do countless things offensively has kept his defenders on their toes. You never know what he’s got up his sleeve, and it makes him nearly impossible to guard in transition.

Well, let’s be clear, it’s probably the most impossible task in basketball. Even if your entire defense is back and prepared for it, there’s no preventing this thunder storm:

Stan Van Gundy is a master with his timeout speeches and instructions, but I imagine all he whispered here was “Get the hell out of the way, before you get hurt.”

Westbrook became the only guard in history to average at least 28 points, 8.5 assists, and 7.2 rebounds with a PER higher than 29. The only other player to accomplish it was a small forward, one that goes by LeBron James.

This upcoming season won’t be as terrifying for Westbrook and his individual achievements, but it could very well be his best. Billy Donovan is set to make him an even smarter basketball player, and that’s some frightening news. With Durant back in the lineup, teams also have a lot more than Westbrook to worry about. But more than likely, having the world’s best offensive player draw some attention should open up Westbrook for cleaner opportunities.

He may still be third out of all point guards, but people have to realize that it’s nothing to get offended over. I forgot that being considered the third greatest in the world at your particular job is a slap of disrespect.

It’s just that two extremely  special forces are ahead of him.

One thing everyone can attest to, however, is that Westbrook competes with the fiercest, most unadulterated fury in the whole league. Not just in the class of point guards.

Next: Tier 1: The Tale of Two Kings