Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Russell Westbrook cracks top 5 on ESPN, SC6 NBA top 10 player lists.

By Tamberlyn Richardson

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - AUGUST 31: OKC Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder meets fans at Guangzhou Sport University on August 31, 2017 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
GUANGZHOU, CHINA - AUGUST 31: OKC Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder meets fans at Guangzhou Sport University on August 31, 2017 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Russell Westbrook  cracks top 5 on ESPN and SC6  top 10 NBA player lists.

Sports Illustrated’s The Crossover opened a can of worms ranking Russell Westbrook outside the top 5 NBA player ranking. Debates ensued over how the reigning MVP hadn’t made the top five, let alone the top three on this list.

Other lists are rolling in with ESPN giving Russ a bit more love ranking him fifth. The full ESPN top 10 list is as follows:

  1. LeBron James
  2. Kevin Durant
  3. Kawhi Leonard
  4. Stephen Curry
  5. Russell Westbrook
  6. Anthony Davis
  7. Chris Paul
  8. James Harden
  9. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  10. Draymond Green

In the seventh year of these annual rankings ESPN held the reigning MVP in the same position as last season (5). Further the panel projects Westbrook’s real plus minus (RPM) to be 6.3.  In the reasoning for the ranking ESPN added levity with the MJ – Monstar usage comparison to Russell Westbrook usage percentage from his MVP season

"After setting an NBA record with a usage percentage of 41.7 in the 2016-17 regular season, Westbrook upped the ante in the postseason with a usage percentage of 45.8 in OKC’s first-round loss to Houston, easily the highest ever in a single postseason. Just how absurd was the load he carried? Westbrook’s usage percentage against the Rockets was larger than Michael Jordan’s against the Monstars in “Space Jam,” according to a 2011 study by the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective."

SC6 got in on the action as well with Michael Smith and Jemele Hill also providing their top 10 picks.

Jemele Hill Top 10:

  1. LeBron James
  2. Kevin Durant
  3. Russell Westbrook
  4. Kawhi Leonard
  5. Stephen Curry
  6. James Harden
  7. Draymond Green
  8. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  9. Chris Paul
  10. Anthony Davis

Michael Smith Top 10:

  1. LeBron James
  2. Kevin Durant
  3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  4. Kawhi Leonard
  5. Russell Westbrook
  6.  Stephen Curry
  7. James Harden
  8. Chris Paul
  9. Anthony Davis
  10. Draymond Green

Recalling TI’s response to The Crossover list this scribe felt Russell Westbrook wasn’t getting paid enough respect. In fact, the shade thrown was seemingly based more on preference. But, hey that’s what opinions are.

"Again, there is no denying Curry’s presence on this list. The two-time MVP is approaching his 30 birthday, a period most analysts refer to as the middle of a player’s prime years. In fairness, Curry plays with two other top ten players on the list as well as Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. Imagine where Westbrook would be on this list if he had that type of talent surrounding him.Oh wait, Presti just added a couple of pieces that might answer that ponderance this coming season. Suffice to say, Curry gets the nod above Westbrook precisely because of the Warriors depth. But, like Steve Smith said on NBA.com other than James and Durant, Westbrook deserved to be ahead of all the others listed."

Why scribes trend toward the same picks:

More from Thunderous Intentions

I remain confused why Paul George and John Wall failed to make anyone’s list. That said, it’s not uncommon for pundits to follow a trend. To wit, expect to see most analysts, writers and major media to have common team rankings.  Understandably the Golden State Warriors will top every list.  Projections for the remaining top West seeds will feature the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder in varying positions. Likewise the East will predominantly select the  Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics to finish in the top two positions.

It’s understandable scribes are antsy to  make a bold prediction. Especially when those tangents are incorrect.  Hey, I took a beating for placing Kristaps Porzingis second in my mock draft. But, it sure was sweet revenge hen he proved to be the player I envisioned. Furthermore, odds are the Lakers sure wish they had selected him especially since their pick (D’Angelo Russell) has since been traded.

Fair warning – this scribe will go out on a limb and make bold predictions and be prepared for the fallback if or when they aren’t 100 percent accurate. As an early precursor expect to see the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves all to get some love. Likewise the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies  will all factor in  teams I expect to regress.

Home/Thunder News