It seems like we have this debate every year, whether Oklahoma City's All-Star Russell Westbrook is truly a point guard, or if he's better off playing shooting guard. At the Thunder's media day, Westbrook proclaimed himself to be the best point guard in the league. His head coach Scott Brooks agreed with him.
But can he be the best point guard in the NBA if we don't know his position?
As LeBron James showed us, just because a player brings the ball up the court doesn't mean they're a point guard. Westbrook has been the main ball handler in Oklahoma City for years, whether he was playing point guard or shooting guard.
This question arises now more than ever with Westbrook's backup, Reggie Jackson, set to join the starting lineup in place of Thabo Sefolosha, who played shooting guard. However, Jackson is more of a 'true' point guard than Westbrook is. He can handle the ball just as well and is more apt to set up the offense than to try and make an individual play.
There are no questions about Russell Westbrook's skills as a basketball player - his quickness and leaping ability make him one of the most athletic players in the league, he has developed a good outside jumper (his pull-up jumper is the most devastating in the league), wreaks havoc on defense, and attacks the lane with ease.
Because he's so talented, he'll often take the ball himself as opposed to setting up any sort of offense or getting other people involved. Westbrook is so unstoppable that it's worked for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he's not a point guard in the traditional sense of the position. Look for Reggie Jackson to start at point guard for the Thunder, with Russell Westbrook starting at shooting guard.
To answer the question, no, he's not the best point guard in the NBA because he isn't a point guard.
Best shooting guard in the NBA? Well, that's a different story.
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