Kevin Johnson vs. Russell Westbrook

[Lebron23]

Who do you think was the better player in their prime and at their peak??

http://courtbully.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/KEVIN_JOHNSON_PHOENIX_SUNS.jpg

http://media2.giphy.com/media/133t0jFpuuqmU8/200_s.gif

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/188878/kevin-johnson-straddle-o.gif

http://www.gifwave.com/media/728353/sports-nba-1988-phoenix-suns-utah-jazz-kevin-johnson-mark-eaton_200s.gif

http://123107819.r.lightningbase-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/russell-westbrook-team-USA.jpg

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/2148789/russell-westbrook-windmill-o.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2450639/westjam_medium.gif

http://instntrply.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/WestbrookDunk123.gif

[Lebron23]

Kevin Johnson was also a good playoffs performer just like RW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-LElKxA2vw

38 points vs. Warriors 1994 NBA Playoffs

43 points, and 46 points vs. Hakeem Olajuwon's rockets (Game 6 and 7)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dB_xKFIJgg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gaxg6T8jMk


Westbrook 40 points vs. Spurs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuKkNyu7yrc

[Genaro]

Westbrook maybe didn't even peaked yet and for sure didn't exited his prime.

[Bigsmoke]

westbrook

[Lebron23]

Imagine prime KJ with the current NBA rule. In the late 1980's and early 1990' he was a 22 ppg, and 11 apg on 52 FG%.

[Smoke117]

Kevin Johnson. He was a much better POINT GUARD. Westbrook is a better scorer (not by that much though), but he's also played his entire career in a league where the rules cater to small guards.

[Crystallas]

KJ was a much better team player. By orders of many magnitude.

Other than that, Westbrook has him pegged in every other department. Whether he does it in game or not, does not mean he doesn't surpass KJ's abilities.

[bizil]

Kevin Johnson. He was a much better POINT GUARD. Westbrook is a better scorer (not by that much though), but he's also played his entire career in a league where the rules cater to small guards.

I agree! KJ was one of those PG's who looked to pass first BUT was an alpha dog as well. Those are my favorite kind of PG's. Westbrook is great as well, but in my book he's more of a score first PG. Or a SG talented enough to thrive at PG as well. So for my PG, give me KJ. But in terms of who's flat out the better player, one could say Westbrook. But as u stated, for my PG, I typically want a guy who is pass first AND can dominate scoring. It's sort of like comparing an elite PG to an elite combo guard or SG who can play PG. Actually the league has more Westbrook style PG's than KJ's style of PG in this era. When back in KJ's era, most of the elite PG's were more in his mold (Magic, Isiah, Mark Price, Payton, Tim Hardaway). Or they were in that Stockton, Kidd, Jackson mold and pure PG's who weren't alpha dog kind of guys.

[dontgetchoked]

Kevin Johnson. He was a much better POINT GUARD. Westbrook is a better scorer (not by that much though), but he's also played his entire career in a league where the rules cater to small guards.
I dont see how westbrook is even a better scorer. better at shooting 3's, sure but even then he's not very good at that and he takes 3 a game whereas kj took .6 per game. he scored a few less points than russ on fewer shots and a higher fg%

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

KJ by far
Westbrook isnt even better than Curry

peak KJ is arguably top5 ALLTIME for PGs. the only PGs clearly better at their peak are Oscar, CP, Magic and Penny. The 5th spot is b/w him and Walt Frazier

he was better than Zeke, Stockton, Payton, Nash, Rose, Curry, Price etc. when u talkin peak VS peak. Career its different for some but peak is another story

[LongLiveTheKing]

Westbrook is better, or are people going to pick KJ just because he played in the 90's.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Westbrook is better, or are people going to pick KJ just because he played in the 90's.
Ppl are picking KJ b/c they actually watched both players play

[bizil]

The problem that Westbrook and many similar style of score first PG's are gonna run into is THE FACT that passing-floor generalship is the most premium asset for a PG. I know it seems like that style of PG is fading away. But when u compare eras, give me the KJ style of PG over the new age PG ANYDAY!

Paul, Rondo, and Rubio are really the only PG's upholding the two old school ways of PG. Either a pass first PG who's an alpha dog like CP3. Or a pass first PG who isn't an alpha dog like Rondo and Rubio. In terms of score first PG's, give me Steph EASILY over the rest because he the best passer of that bunch. He's such a great shooter and efficient that he would be a fool not to exploit that. So Steph is an exception to most of the other ones. Now if u moved Westbrook to SG and compared him to KJ, then I think Westbrook had a great case over KJ FOR SURE! But judging them both as PG's, give me KJ!

[bizil]

U also gotta give KJ MAD PROPS for being the first freak athlete PG to play above the rim at that size. No other PG at 6'1 was CLOSE to doing what KJ was doing at his peak. Stylistically, he was taking what Tiny and Isiah did to the next level by adding that freak athletic ability. Unfortunately, injuries got in the way and hampered a sure fire HOF career.

[Bless Mathews]

Kj.

3 seasons of 20+PPG and 10apg

Almost 5 seasons.

Absolute elite stat for point guards.

One of the most underrated players ever.

[dreamwarrior]

KJ played under a system that allowed him to score a lot of points AND get tons of assists. But he was never called a shoot first PG like Westbrook.

[KungFuJoe]

KJ all the way.

Westbrook is an incredibly talented chucker.

[Round Mound]

KJ was the best slashing pg i ever saw. Derrick Rose is the closest to him in that skill. All around? Neither Westbrook or KJ are 1st Pass then Drive or Shoot PGs. Tough call.

[DonDadda59]

Kevin Johnson. He was a much better POINT GUARD. Westbrook is a better scorer (not by that much though), but he's also played his entire career in a league where the rules cater to small guards.

This is really inarguable. Russ is a freak athlete and a very good scorer, but at the end of the day he's really just an undersized SG. He can make some completely boneheaded plays sometimes.