NBA Player Power Rankings: Draymond Green is Rising

NBA Player Power Rankings: Draymond Green Surging

Dec 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (left) reacts as Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) looks on in the first half of a NBA basketball game on Christmas at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 2, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) stands on the court in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Thunder defeated the Hornets 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Rank: No. 3

Position: Point Guard

Age: 27

Slash Line: .459/.295/.836

Season Averages: 34.4 MPG, 25.2 PPG, 9.4 APG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 1.3 3PM

Russell Westbrook is the most explosive player in the NBA. Both athletically and statistically, that holds true as a nightly triple-double threat who impacts every phase of the game.

He has his critics, but Westbrook has been instrumental in the Oklahoma City Thunder returning to championship contention.

Westbrook is the only player in the NBA who ranks in the Top 5 in both points and assists per game. He’s done this while maintaining an efficient field goal percentage, an assist-to-turnover ratio above 2.0, and an outstanding 21 double-doubles in 36 games.

No other perimeter player has reached 20.

This past week, Westbrook posted 36 points, 12 assists and five steals on 12-of-19 shooting in a 110-106 win over the Phoenix Suns. He shot a combined 10-of-38 in the two games that followed, but also had a combined 22 assists and 14 rebounds during those outings.

Westbrook closed out the week with a pedestrian—you know, by his standards—20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 30 minutes. As I said: explosive.

Next: Gunning for No. 5