Better Player: James Harden or Russell Westbrook?

[Codeine Bryant]

Who you takin, brehs?

Harden is the former sidekick's sidekick. Weren't enough balls to go around. Gets traded and immediately thrives. Gets to be primary ball-handler, primary option, primary shooter, alpha-dog, etc. Has the green light to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Usually does.

Russ is still a sidekick. Been with Durant all his career. Always been a knock against him, always will be (fair or unfair). Gets to play with a top 2 option in the world, never gets full defensive focus, able to abuse teams focused on The Servant.


Career Averages:

2PT%
J. Harden - 49.8%
R. Westbrook - 45.6%

3PT%
J. Harden - 37.2%
R. Westbrook - 30.3%

Harden: 19.2 - 4.2 - 4.3 - 1.4 STL
Westbrook: 20.6 - 5.1 - 7.0 - 1.7 STL



Past 2.5 season averages:

Harden: 26.1 - 5.1 - 6.2 - 1.8 STL 8.3/9.6 - FTM/FTA
Westbrook: 23.7 - 5.7 - 7.4 - 1.9 STL 6.1/7.4 - FTM/FTA


Harden is the better shooter, no doubt. Gets to the line more as well. Russ seems to have the edge in rebounding and assisting. How many of those assists are due to playing with Durant... that's something to take into consideration.

Westbrook has been putting up elite numbers this year without Durant. Nobody can say he feeds off Durant anymore. He's in the conversation for top 5/7 players in the league.


Personally, Westbrook > Harden

 

[No1]

I was going to make a new thread but I couldn’t pass up on bumping a thread from a user named Codeine Bryant. Anyhow, have at it.

 

[BlueHeffner]

Russ

 

[MyApps]

Overall,

Based on how their careers panned out, INCLUDING KD,

It's Russ.

Harden is NOT reliable in playoffs

And as much as people say Russ benefitted from KD, the opposite is also true. KD ain't a winner his damn self.

Russ has the heart, athleticism, passing IQ, defense, and Rebounding over Harden.

Russ can have the most horrid shooting numbers in a playoff game, but he can still will his team to a win.

Hes basically Jason Kidd with top notch athleticism and slightly worse passing.

And leads NBA HISTORY in a major category, Triple doubles.

Russ>Harden

 

[mastermind]

It’s clearly Harden but this is a game of the biggest loser

 

[mikishere]

obviously harden but we need a neither option on that poll . both are the worst mvps by far of the 2000s when it comes to actual legacy. i know someone will quote me saying d rose but his career was cut short to injury and still has shown more in the playoffs than the other two.

 

[Damnshow]

Overall,

Based on how their careers panned out, INCLUDING KD,

It's Russ.

Harden is NOT reliable in playoffs

And as much as people say Russ benefitted from KD, the opposite is also true. KD ain't a winner his damn self.

Russ has the heart, athleticism, passing IQ, defense, and Rebounding over Harden.

Russ can have the most horrid shooting numbers in a playoff game, but he can still will his team to a win.

Hes basically Jason Kidd with top notch athleticism and slightly worse passing.

And leads NBA HISTORY in a major category, Triple doubles.

Russ>Harden

Westbrook has been a bench player, for a while now. What the fukk. We saw what happened in playoffs when Westbrook was supposed to be the leader... And they lost in 1st round quick.

 

[KidJSoul]

Technically Harden, as he carries his teams further. But Harden seems to mentally fold so he looks worse

 

[NotAHotep]

Harden>>>

 

[number21]

Harden. Russ is an low iq basketball player. Always will be. Great heart and energy though which is great as a role player especially now that he's accepted it.