Why Russell Westbrook is More Valuable than Kevin Durant

As my colleague Eric Nohelty would like to point out, I believe a NBA player's assists per game constitutes as a significant statistic in today's NBA. The list that my colleague Eric Nohelty posted earlier contains the players who average under 3 assists per game. Then, my colleague Eric Nohelty stated that he wouldn't want any of these players on his team in mock gesture of an argument we held last night.



The basic argument stemmed from my proclamation before the season that Russell Westbrook is more valuable (or important which is the same thing). Before the season, Kevin Durant was touted as a phenom the likes of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. However, although Kevin Durant scores more points than James and Bryant the last two seasons, his assists per game pales in comparison to the two other greats. The amount of touches Durant receives should dictate that he average more assists per game. NBA analysts both on TNT and ESPN have said he needs to improve his court vision and passing. That is my argument against Kevin Durant in terms of assists per game and how he should not be considered in terms of a Lebron James or Kobe Bryant.

Now, for my argument towards Russell Westbook being more valuable than Kevin Durant. Durant averages just about 6 more points per game. He averages slightly under 2 more rebounds per game. Russell Westbrook averages 5.5 assists more than Durant per game. Westbrook also averages more steals and Durant averages more blocks. Durant shoots better from the field and from three significantly. These are the statistics. They are concrete facts.

Now, why would I choose Russell Westbrook as more valuable than Durant if Durant holds a slight edge in the statistical category? Why would ESPN have Westbrook at 7 and 4 in their MVP watch the last two weeks? Charlie look here. And why would ESPN not have Durant in the top 10 of their NBA MVP watch since the first weekend they released it?

Now obviously this is not a crackpot, glue-sniffing, idiotic argument that my colleagues Eric and Charlie think it is. Maurice Brooks, ESPN NBA analyst is quoted as, "In September, when Kevin Durant was leading team USA to gold at the FIBA World Championship, who'd have thought KD would be the second best player in OKC."

Westbrook carried the Thunder through Durant's unfortunate injury early in the season. With Durant out of the lineup the Thunder went 3-1 with a road win against Boston.

I'll leave you with this little nugget to consider. It should follow the syllogism model of reasoning. Fact #1: Kevin Durant is superior in all major offensive statistics other than assists per game and steals than Russell Westbrook. Fact #2: Kevin Durant is not being considered for MVP at this moment and Russell Westbrook is. My conclusion: assists per game may play a vital role in determining a player's importance.