Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 signs Russell Westbrook is changing his game
3. Usage rate
If you analyze the numbers from Oladipo’s single season in OKC to his year in Indiana, you will see quite the contrast. Primarily, Oladipo’s usage rate sheds some light on this topic.
What is usage rate? While analytics gurus debate over its formula and applicability, usage rate determines what percentage of a player’s plays result in him taking a shot, committing a turnover, or getting to the free throw line.
If usage rate roughly tells us how involved in the offense a player is, then what can it tell us about being Westbrook’s teammate? With the Oklahoma City Thunder, Oladipo posted a career-low usage rate of 21.4 percent. Compare that to Westbrook’s usage rate in the same year, one which led the league at 41.7 percent.
With the Indiana Pacers, Oladipo saw his rate spike to a new career high of 30.1 percent. He excelled as he spent more time taking shots or getting fouled, and consequently earned his first All-Star appearance. Simply put, to reach his potential Oladipo needed more opportunities to score.
What do the usage rates of Waiters, Anthony and George tell us? Both Waiters and Anthony reached career lows in usage rate while playing alongside Westbrook, and their production suffered because of it. Similarly to Oladipo, Waiters’ usage rate spiked when he moved on from the Thunder, and his career changed trajectory because of it.
Naturally, George’s usage rate must have reached a new low as well. Surprisingly, it didn’t! George posted a usage rate of 25.7 percent, which matched his career average. Despite having a comparatively high usage rate for a Westbrook teammate, George played well next to his All-Star buddy.
Last year, Westbrook’s own usage rate dropped by 7.6 percent. Although his overall rate of 34.1 percent is still out of this world, it is at least nearing a return to Earth. Last season, Westbrook led all guards in average time of possession, but still found a way to get Paul George enough touches. Considering he did not do this for past teammates, something may be changing here, folks.