There was a time when Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook was an unquestioned top three point guard in the league. As a matter of fact, there was a time when some felt he was even better than Stephen Curry. His combination of size, athleticism and ferocity is unmatched by anyone who has ever played the point guard position, and at his peak, he was one of the most dominant physical forces this game has ever seen.
But is Westbrook still a top three floor general in the league? A couple of years ago, it would have been hard to argue that he wasn't. But in 2019, it's difficult to argue that he is.
Westbrook is not exactly having a banner 2018-19 campaign. His counting numbers look good, as he is averaging 21.5 points, a league-leading 11 assists, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 35.5 minutes per game. However, his shooting percentages tell a different story, as Westbrook is making just 41.8 percent of his field-goal attempts, 25 percent of his three-pointers and 64.4 percent of his free-throw attempts.
While Westbrook missing shots is not much of a surprise, it's hard to tell what has happened to him at the charity stripe, as he is a lifetime 80.5 percent free-throw shooter.
But this year, it is clear that Westbrook has taken a step back and appears to be on the decline, opening the door for other point guards in the league to pass him on the list.
Two such point guard who may have surpassed Westbrook this season are Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard.
Irving and Lillard are both very similar players, possessing spectacular scoring chops and the ability to burn defenders in one-on-one situations at will.
Both guys are probably enjoying the best years of their careers this season, just in time for the decline of Westbrook, who is having what is probably his worst season since his rookie campaign.
Let's start with Irving.
The Boston Celtics star has been sensational, registering 23.8 points per game while averaging career highs in assists (seven), rebounds (4.9) and steals (1.7) while also shooting a lifetime-best 50.3 percent from the floor. In addition, the 26-year-old is draining 40.8 percent of his long-distance tries and 85.4 percent of his foul shots.
Perhaps the biggest development in Irving's game, however, is his improvement at the defensive end, which was on full display against Westbrook's Thunder this past Sunday when Irving stripped Westbrook late in the fourth quarter to seal a Celtics win.
While no one will ever mistake Kyrie for an All-NBA defender, he is at least becoming adequate on that end of the floor, moving his feet incredibly well, drawing charges and putting in more effort than ever before.
Plus, Irving has become a better playmaker, as evidenced by his increase in assists. During his Cleveland Cavaliers days, Irving was sometimes criticized for dominating the ball too much, but now, he is turning into a true point guard, demonstrating a great sense of where his teammate are and showing the ability to make the right basketball play.
Then we have Lillard, who, like Irving, has been on another level this season.
The 28-year-old is recording 26.4 points, 6.3 assists, 4.6 boards and 1.1 steals a night, connecting on a career-high 45 percent of his shots while also hitting on 37.2 percent of his triples and 90.8 percent of his free throws.
Lillard is an unstoppable force on the offensive end of the floor at times, exhibiting an overall smoothness to his game that we have scarcely seen out of the point guard position.
As a result, the Portland Trail Blazers are once again in the mix for a top-three seed in the competitive Western Conference.
Now, to be fair to Westbrook, he has had to adjust his game with the addition of Paul George, but, honestly, is having George as a teammate all that much different from having Kevin Durant in terms of style?
Remember: during Durant's time in Oklahoma City, Westbrook was heavily chastised for his shot selection and low shooting percentages, but that has not really changed with George.
The difference is that now, Westbrook no longer has the same type of athleticism to consistently beat his man off the dribble or finish around the rim with the same type of authority.
So, Westbrook is still taking bad shots and making questionable decisions, but in 2019, the gap between his immense talent and his sometimes poor decision-making is starting to close.
And with that gap closing, so is the gap between Westbrook—who is now 30 years old, by the way—and the rest of the point guards in the NBA.
We know that Curry is better than Westbrook, and a healthy Chris Paul probably edges him out at floor general, too. But now, Irving and Lillard seem to have passed him, as well.
It makes you wonder who is next.
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