Dejounte Murray considers Russell Westbrook the greatest point guard in NBA history, placing the recently retired star ahead of legends such as Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Isiah Thomas.
“The way he plays the game, that’s how the game is supposed to be played… No friends allowed until after the game,” Murray said via ClutchPoints. “I was blessed to compete against him. And I love Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Isaiah Thomas. But just who Russ was and what he’s done on and off the court, you can’t do that again, you can’t script that.”
Westbrook retired this summer after an 18-year NBA career that produced a unique statistical résumé. He finished with 1,301 regular-season games, 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game while making 1,133 starts.
The nine-time All-Star became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season when he posted 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016-17. He won the MVP award that season and earned All-NBA First Team honors.
Westbrook went on to average a triple-double in three consecutive seasons from 2016-17 through 2018-19. He ultimately recorded four seasons with a triple-double average, including his 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists for the Washington Wizards in 2020-21.
His 2016-17 campaign also marked one of the most productive individual seasons by a point guard. Westbrook averaged 31.6 points while leading the league in scoring, along with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists in 81 games.
He was selected to nine All-NBA teams, including five First Team selections, and finished in the top five of MVP voting four times. Westbrook also won two scoring titles and led the league in assists three times.
His statistical production continued even after his peak scoring years. In 2025-26, his final NBA season with Sacramento, Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 64 games while shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.8% from three-point range.
Murray had the opportunity to compete directly against Westbrook during his own NBA career. Murray entered the league in 2016 and has played against Westbrook at several stages of Westbrook’s career, including during his Oklahoma City, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles and Denver years.
The two guards also represent different generations of NBA point guards. Murray has established himself as an All-Star-level two-way guard, while Westbrook’s combination of athleticism, rebounding and playmaking allowed him to produce numbers rarely associated with the position.
Westbrook’s career ended with 11,000-plus assists and more than 9,000 rebounds, while he became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular-season triple-doubles.
