[MelParticipant]

I know a lot of people are probably going to give me negative points but Westbrook KIND OF reminds me of a young Dwayne Wade. A 6’4 guard that can play both but is better suited on the wing wreaking havoc. They both are athletic as hell, neither can really shoot. Wade is obviously a superstar but look at their rookie campaigns:
Year Team G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG

03-04 MIA 61 56 34.9 0.465 0.302 0.747 4.0 4.5 1.4 0.6 3.21 2.30 16.2

Westbrook

Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG

08-09 OKC 82 65 32.5 0.398 0.271 0.815 4.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 3.34 2.30 15.3

What does Wade have that Westbrook doesnt possess or have the potential to in his game?

[STEVEDOT2Participant]

I see a steve francis type player in westbrook

[Knicksboy34Participant]

100% agree with the Francis look. I also a better version of Baron Davis..

[CriticalTruthParticipant]

A BETTER version of Baron Davis?? you are forgeting that BD was a superstar in his prime and is still all star material if he stays healthy and motivated

[MelParticipant]

I dont see Westbrook and Davis as similar players at all. Davis can shoot, for one. Two, Davis has a different body type, he is very very strong and looks out of shape.

Westbrook can put up 20-5-5. His quick first step will allow him to get to the line a lot. He rebounds well for his size and passes OK. His turnovers are high but it was his first year in the league. He has a really bright future. Playing alongside Durant will open up the floor for him to dribble-drive. If OKC drafts Harden, it will be impossible for anyone to double Durant or Westbrook or Green because all 4 can light you up given the space.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

I see the DWade comparison.

[joecheck88Participant]

i hate the steve francis comparisons, any athletic pg from 6 foot 2 to 6 4 are compared to francis and baron davis. steve francis was a selfish player from day one when he bullied his way out of vancouver. westbrook is a team guy and worked hard to be a top 5 pick. baron davis is a better comparison but he is always out of shape and injured. westbrook will never come in out of shape. honestly, i like the d wade comparison the best. i think wade will always be the better player but westbrook could be close. i think wade will always have a better mid range game better than westbrook and durant will not allow westbrook to be that kind of player. and i dont mean durant is a bad teammate but that durant will always be the number 1 option.

[Michael.S.Participant]

the crossover d-wade had or the strength,or the mid-range game( that has now expanded to the 3-pt line)

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

yea, RW is only like Steve Francis in that both are (or were) freakishly athletic… the comparisons stop there. Russell is not a ball hog, doesn’t jack up ridiculous shots, doesn’t think he is THEEEEEEEE SHYTTTTTTT, would never have demanded to be traded from a team before he ever played there…. i will give you that both are at their best when the ball is in their hands.

Francis never gave as much effort as RW does on the defensive end either.

[JNixonParticipant]

Yea, I dont like the Baron Davis one or the D-Wade 1, but he is alot like Francis. He is the same explosive athlete that Francis was except Westbrook isnt as good a shooter but Francis’ attitude isnt apart of the comparison, thats for a different time and topic.Im talking about how he plays

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

mikenike

he doesn’t have what dwyane has YET! the sky is the limit for this guy. if he continues to progress as much from season-to-season as he has since his Fr year at UCLA he will be an all star next year- or at least legitimately in the conversation. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, watch your back. if he can average like 18 6 6 and bring down the TOs…

and i don’t see any reason why he can’t and shouldn’t be that good.

[joecheck88Participant]

thank you badger. d wade is a good comparison because wade came out after his junior year and westbrook his sophomore year. wade was more mature physically. westbrook will develop more strength and a better j. he just wont be the same player as wade but will play similar.

[Michael.S.Participant]

but he has ALOT to work on, i don’t think ill ever see him as a great scorer

[joecheck88Participant]

i agree he has ALOT to work on but that is why d wade is the best comparison. IGUODALA, his attitude and work ethic is for this conversation. francis had a terrible attitude and thought he was the greatest. that is why he hasnt played meaningful basketball in a few years. good attitude and work ethic is what makes players like d wade. if he didnt want to win and be the best he can would he have a ring or be in the mvp discussion? i doubt it. westbrook has the physical tools and the mental tools to be great and not just a highlight film.

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

Better version of Baron Davis areu serious…u must not have watched much Baron Davis??? Baron Davis has been a great player up until last year, and that’s cuz the Clippers have the worst coach/GM and training staff in the league!!!

I really can’t find anyone to compare Westbrook…I know he wasn’t a big time star, but he reminds me of John Starks, freakishly quick with great explosiveness and a very good defender!!!

[mb6297]

Better than Baron Davis? Are you guys crazy? Have you seen him from his Warriors days?

And Francis was also unstoppable during his earlier years.

I like Westbrook, but he is nowhere close to where those two guys were.

I’m assuming you guys are really young and haven’t seen these guys in their prime. And Westbrook has no chance of ever being as good as Wade.

[JNixonParticipant]

John Starks is about as close as you’ll get, but Westbrook is like Francis and Starks except he cant shoot like either one

[Michael.S.Participant]

but again that guy could shoot the lights out,i can compare him to barbosa ( more athletic,little less quick)

[Michael.S.Participant]

comparison i dont like it anymore KEVIN JOHNSON

[knicksfan7Participant]

Russell Westbrook is the not the next anyone. It is going to be one day who is the next Russell Westbrook.

[joecheck88Participant]

he cant shoot yet. and baron & francis were great for sportscenter not great players. baron davis was great but injuries and him being out of shape most of the time killed his career. but what did steve francis ever do for his team? lead them to first round exits and get overpaid because he could dunk as a pg and score. steve francis is horrible. and people have ripped kobe and ai for shooting all the time and they had atleast some playoff success. but steve francis was great? no russell westbrook wont be dwade but barring injury he will be twice the player steve francis was.

[JNixonParticipant]

He isnt exactly like anyone, I mean he is apart of the athletic pg breed but he is exactly like anyone else

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Westbrook had a great rookie year. I was shocked to see the Thunder take him with the 4th pick last year. I thought he was overrated and a total stretch to pick him that high. However, he proved me wrong. Westbrook, Durant, & Green blend well together. I don’t think he will ever be as good as Wade but he is certainly a very solid starting PG in the nba.

[jerb2011Participant]

People really talk about Russ’ shooting, he is a better shooter than many people think. If you watch him, instead of just shooting while relaxed, he was forced because of the shot clock the majority of the time, I live in OKC and have season tickets, I noticed that. However, in warm ups when he was guarded by everybody on the team, when he was relaxed, he made it, but when forced, he bricks. All of the 3 pointers he made, he was opened, AND RELAXED. But when he was covered and shot clock running out, or because somebody passed the ball late he could not get into rythem because he was forced to just throw up the ball.

[STEVEDOT2Participant]

the reason wade came out o late he couldnt play for some reason early in his collge career.

but westbrooke has a sneaky offensive game he can shoot a little bit…he was lighting the net up in the summer league lol

i compare him to francis same number as francis his rookie season , very explosive point gaurds

personality shouldnt have anything to do with level of play

[stoppre1213Participant]

Thank you Knicksfan4life, you took the words right out of my mouth.

[KEviDMvPParticipant]

Westbrook doesnt need to be as good as Wade but he has the potential to do so. Oklahoma will dominate if he gets half as good as Wade especially if they draft Harden, no team will be able to guard them.

[STEVEDOT2Participant]

wade can play off the ball can westbrook do that?

[Author]

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