Hoops Habit
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All-Time Starting 5

By Austin Denean

May 27, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate after a play against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate after a play against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook 2008-Present

This is the most debatable position in the starting five, as both Westbrook and Payton will go down as one of the best players to ever share the point guard position.

However, Westbrook has transformed the game with his style of play and the amount of talent he has.

Westbrook nearly dragged a depleted Thunder roster to the playoffs last season during Durant’s absence, posting a triple-double nearly every night and winning a scoring title along the way. If it weren’t for the great years Stephen Curry and James Harden had, he very well could have won the MVP award.

Westbrook is a hound on defense and an unstoppable force on the offensive end. While Durant is the steady force that makes the Thunder one of the most complete teams in the NBA, Westbrook is the key cog in the engine.

His slashing and scoring ability set up all kinds of opportunities for his team to score. His quickness and ability to push the ball up the floor, as well as his hounding defense and ability to start the fast break off of a steal add another dimension to the Thunder that no other player could.

More hoops habit: NBA Draft: Best Player Ever Selected in all 60 Spots

It is nearly impossible to get two of the five best players in the world together on one team, but OKC has managed to do that. Westbrook has become arguably the best point guard in the league with Curry, and could lead the team to its first championship since the ’79 team earned nearly 40 years ago.

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