The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked

44) Russell Westbrook

Future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook was entering a new phase of his career at the start of the 2020s after being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder after spending the first decade of his career there. He lasted only a season in Houston, beginning the transition from star to role player.

Westbrook bounced around, playing for the Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and LA Clippers in a five-year span, with him starting the second half of the decade with the Denver Nuggets. While he was criticized for his play while on the Lakers, he still continued to put up strong numbers during the first five seasons of the decade, averaging 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 341 games. He also tallied 61 triple-doubles during that time.

At 35 years old and entering his 16th season in the NBA, Westbrook probably won't finish out the decade but he can continue to round out his Hall of Fame case. He has a great chance to become just the second player to tally up 27,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 9,000 assists. Ultimately, Westbrook wasn't nearly as good as he was in the 2010s but he still ranks among the best players of the 2020s.