Channing Frye believes Steve Nash was a better overall player than Russell Westbrook, despite acknowledging that Westbrook possessed a level of athleticism and physical ability rarely seen from an NBA guard.
Speaking on the Road Trippin’ Show, Frye compared the two accomplished point guards and ultimately chose his former Phoenix Suns teammate. “Russell Westbrook is the most, top-two most athletic guard ever to play basketball though,” Frye said. “But, Steve Nash is a 50-40-90 guy.”
Frye added that Westbrook’s combination of athleticism and relentless energy separated him from nearly every guard in NBA history. “Where Russell has just God-given ability and motor that no one’s ever seen ever before,” he said. “So, Steve Nash is my guy. So, yes, Steve Nash is better than Russell Westbrook.”
Nash’s statistical profile supports Frye’s emphasis on efficiency and playmaking. The two-time MVP finished his 18-year career averaging 14.3 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 49.0% from the field, 42.8% from three-point range and 90.4% from the free-throw line.
Nash produced four seasons in which he reached the 50% field-goal, 40% three-point and 90% free-throw thresholds, including consecutive 50-40-90 campaigns in 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. He also earned seven All-NBA selections and eight All-Star appearances during his career.
His two MVP seasons came with Phoenix in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Nash averaged 15.5 points and 11.5 assists in his first MVP season, then increased his production to 18.8 points and 10.5 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field, 43.9% from three and 92.1% from the free-throw line in 2005-06.
Westbrook’s career was built around a different statistical profile. Across 18 seasons, he has averaged 20.9 points, 8.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds while earning nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA selections, three assists titles, two scoring titles and the 2016-17 MVP award.
Westbrook also holds the NBA record with 209 regular-season triple-doubles, a mark that has continued to separate his statistical production from other guards.
His 2016-17 MVP season remains the clearest example, as he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for Oklahoma City. He became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire season.
Westbrook also surpassed Nash on the NBA’s all-time assists list during the 2025-26 season. He entered the 2026 offseason with 10,336 career assists, ranking fifth in league history, while Nash finished his career with 10,335.
