Is OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook on the back end of his career?
Points by era
Let’s begin by progressing through Russell Westbrooks shooting percentages and average points per game by era.
Kevin Durant era
| Season | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | .398 | .271 | .415 | .815 | 15.3 |
| 2009-10 | .418 | .221 | .438 | .780 | 16.1 |
| 2010-11 | .442 | .330 | .451 | .842 | 21.9 |
| 2011-12 | .457 | .316 | .482 | .823 | 23.6 |
| 2012-13 | .438 | .323 | .466 | .800 | 23.2 |
| 2013-14 | .437 | .318 | .482 | .826 | 21.8 |
| 2014-15 | .426 | .299 | .457 | .835 | 28.1 |
| 2015-16 | .454 | .296 | .503 | .812 | 23.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/14/2019.
The above table reveals Westbrook’s per game shooting percentages by distance as well as average points per game during his tenure alongside Kevin Durant. We can see that Westbrook’s overall field goal percentage was fairly consistent from year to year. His 3-point percentages peaked about halfway through this particular era while his 2-point percentages generally increased over time.
Aside from his standout 2014-15 campaign, his points per game average were also very consistent beginning in the 2010-11 season. Westbrook averaged 21.7 points per game during the Kevin Durant era.
Solo star era
| Season | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | .425 | .343 | .459 | .845 | 31.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/14/2019.
Next, we see the shooting production Westbrook enjoyed during his only year as the solo superstar with the OKC Thunder. We can see field goal percentage was a bit lower but still, well within the range he established in the Kevin Durant era. His 3-point shooting percentage and average point per game total, on the other hand, saw increases over what was his typical production.
Paul George era
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/14/2019.
Lastly, we see Westbrook’s shooting percentages during his time with Paul George by his side. Once again, his overall field goal percentages were within the range established during the Kevin Durant era. His 3-point percentages dropped, but they were still above his lowest 3-point percentages during the Kevin Durant era.
Westbrook’s free throw percentages have been down since PG joined the Thunder, but his 2-point shooting has been in the upper end of what should be expected. Most notably, Westbrook’s average points per game come in at 24.2 during the Paul George era.
The trend
If we step back and look at the trends as a whole, then it is pretty easy to see that Russell Westbrook’s shooting efficiency has been stable throughout all eras with the OKC Thunder. If anything, his points per game generally increase over time, albeit achieved with different shot selections.