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The Top 10 Point Guards in the NBA

By Tom Atkinson

May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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  1. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball around Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the third quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball around Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the third quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Age: 27

2015-16 Season Per-Game Averages: 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals.

Career Per-Game Averages: 21.5 points, 7.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals.

Triple-double machine. Who else than Russell Westbrook? Westbrook is an easy choice for number two on this list. Following up a season in which you finish as the top scorer is never easy, but Russ did it and then some. Of course, with Kevin Durant back from injury, Westbrook’s points went down but just look at those numbers again. 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and two steals. Holy sh-. Those are some majorly gargantuan numbers the likes of which you don’t see every day. Sure, his defense could be better. Sure, he could shoot better from deep. But come on guys, he’s only human.

Dodgy fashion choices aside, Westbrook is the most physical point in the NBA and that is why he can put up big numbers in so many columns. 7.8 rebounds for a guard? Averaging a points-assists double-double for the year? Those are insane achievements.

For a guy whose passing and play-making we might have criticized not too long ago, Westbrook has evolved into the most (generally) dominant point guard in the league.

"“Thirty years ago, that’s me,” Michael Jordan said of Westbrook, via Russ Bengtson of Complex. “The attitude, trying to prove myself, showing so much passion for the game of basketball. You see it in his play. You can tell he loves the game, he plays with energy and flair.”"

They are very different players, but that is a helluva comparison for MJ to make and, as James Herbert (CBS Sports) points out, this is not the kind of thing his Jordan does lightly. With the same attitude, energy and passion as the greatest in the game, Russ is a special player, who throws up triple-doubles for fun.

Next: No. 1

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