OKC's Brooks thinks Westbrook is 'the best point guard in basketball,' Westbrook agrees

Russell Westbrook is among an exciting group of young superstar point guards thriving in the modern NBA, but ask almost any Association observer and they'll tell you Chris Paul remains the game's best lead guard.

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks isn't one of those observers.

"I believe Russell is the best point guard in basketball," Brooks said at Thunder media day on Monday, via ESPN. "That's happened over time. I've seen Russell every practice, every game, every film session, and he's really put a lot of time into being the best point guard in basketball."

Paul, who has been named to the All-NBA First Team in three straight seasons and four of the last seven years, would surely disagree, but the ever-confident Westbrook concurs with his coach.

"I'm very honored to hear him say that," Westbrook said. "But that's how I feel."

"I've felt that since I got in the league," Westbrook added.

"I mean, that's my mindset. As a rookie, I came in and I felt like I was the best player on the floor every time I stepped on the floor. That's just my mindset. That's the way I've played since college. It's not just this year or last year. It's how I think when I get on the basketball floor."

Westbrook has been criticized over the years for his poor shot selection, and for not deferring to Kevin Durant as much as he probably should. But he has managed to amass career averages of 20.1 points, 6.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals, himself (A balanced stat line few legends can match), emerging as not just one of the best point guards in the league, but one of the best players, period.

Just not better than Paul. At least not yet.

Paul, who has earned his "Point God" nickname, may not score with the same frequency as Westbrook does or play above the rim like his counterpart, but he runs an offense masterfully and scores much more efficiently than Westbrook, as their career numbers show.

Brooks' confidence in his own All-Star point guard, who he's coached for six seasons, should come as no surprise. But until Westbrook becomes as great a passer, as efficient a scorer and as consistent a defender as Paul, he can't be considered the game's best point guard.