In an era full of dominating point guards, two stand out from the rest.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s point guard Russell Westbrook has drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, while the Golden State Warriors’ golden boy Stephen Curry resembles two-time MVP Steve Nash. Both Westbrook and Curry are enjoying MVP-caliber seasons, but only one will be crowned king.
By looking at the numbers, Westbrook stands out a bit further than Curry. The OKC wrecking ball certainly possesses the ability to fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis, with season averages of 27.5 points per game, 8.7 assists per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Not to mention, Westbrook has been showing no signs of slowing down, as he’s averaging a triple-double in the month of March.
“All in all, Westbrook is the most athletic and exciting player in the NBA,” said EHS shooting guard Dan Marinko.
Though his team started out cold, and has missed the reigning MVP, Kevin Durant, for most (and will for the rest) of the season, Westbrook has almost single-handedly led the Thunder to a 41-31 record. With every rim-rattling dunk, Westbrook sends an aggressive message: I AM THE MVP.
But a Warrior stands in the way. Curry’s sharp-shooting and ninja-like ball skills have pushed Golden State to a 58-13 record, good for best in the league. Curry owns a 23.3 points per game average, while also contributing 7.9 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per game. On the defensive side, Curry’s 145 steals rank third in the entire NBA. Though his offensive numbers are slightly less than Westbrook’s, Curry’s ability to lead a basketball team to become virtually unbeatable is impossible to overlook.
“Steph is one of the best point guards in the league,” said EHS point guard Kyler Davis. “He will go down as one of the best, if not the best, shooters the NBA has ever had.”
Curry’s impact on Golden State is undeniable. The Warriors have the highest-scoring offense in the league, and though players such as All-star Klay Thompson deserve some credit, Curry expedites the process and runs the court. Acting as vanguard, Curry has the Warriors leading a thunderous charge towards an NBA championship.
The MVP race has been exhilarating. By exerting high levels of flash and athleticism all season long, Westbrook and Curry have caught the eye of fans nationwide. Now that the final stretch of the NBA season has arrived, the two stars will do whatever it takes to claim the throne.