Russell Westbrook vs. James Harden: Who Has The Better Career?
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been linked since their time together in OKC and are two of the most influential players of their generation. We dive deep into the career arcs and accomplishments of these all-time great guards. Who are you taking?
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0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Style
4:45 - Stats
6:45 - Awards
9:10 - Winning - Спорт
Love that you got Clayton Crowley involved. Everything he does is fantastic.
Besides the Jordan wizards video, they've all been so spot on
i was just about to say this sounds like clayton. glad to get that confirmation
@@jonathanglennon1325nah he made some valid points in that one
Apparently westbrook was "holding the thunder back" but when he got injured in 2013 the team collapsed in the playoffs and let’s not forget how many memorable moments and series he had such as spurs vs okc 2016, mavs vs okc 2016, 2015 clippers, game 7 vs memphis in 2014, that iconic 2012 lakers series where he had that and one in game 5 and even though that he didn’t have much playoff success after durant left saying that he never had a good playoff moment is wrong . his performance in game 5 vs the jazz in 2018 to lead the thunder’s comeback is one of the best I have ever seen and the list goes on
He also dropped 43 on the Heat big 3 in the finals
Thats exactly why i cant watch vids like these. Its like these people dont watch ball, they just run with narratives like hypebeasts
ok but “failed to make his team better” was a crazy thing to say 😂😂😂 that team would’ve been the worse team in the league without russ
Real half that roster was out the nba after 2 years
@@PrimeKobeBryantnot even that, they were a defensive team that did not fit with Russ play style at all! That was an incredible MVP season
@@PrimeKobeBryantAndre Roberson survived a little longer than 2 years actually
Brother that elimination game vs the jazz when they were down like 25 and russ willed them back into that game, or had 40 points in the nba finals vs bron bosh or wade. Or when he had the game winning block on booker. 0 memorable playoff performances is crazy
Critics suggesting Russell Westbrook didn’t elevate his team in 2017 (top clutch scorer) have no credibility. They’re admitting they paid no attention nor watched that team.
Harden never gets credit for taking the greatest collection of talent of all time to game 7 and prolly should have won if CP3 didn’t get hurt. They say he “choked” against the 73 win warriors with KD…
Cracks me up how the excuse is always that CP3 was out. Harden and the rest of the Houston team absolutely failed to deliver in game 7. CHOKED.
@@spiritfirst8048 those KD teams are prolly favored against every single team in NBA history…. You can’t choke if you are considered the massive underdog
You don't get the point. The fact that the rockets even made it to a game 7 is insane given how good those warriors were. It took an all time shooting slump for the warriors to only win game 7 by single digits. Love him or hate him, Harden is a legend. @@spiritfirst8048
James Harden put the fear in God against those GOAT-esque Warriors teams. Russ is great, but Harden at his peak was slightly just above.
Clayton Crowley?! Holy cow! This is an amazing surprise!
His series against spurs in 2016 , in 2012 against the lakers when he made that steal and crazy shot and his series agaist the mavs when cuban said he wasnt a superstar and kd defending him. Stop the cap he has alot of memorable playoff moments. Watch the spurs 2016 series and watch how he dominated them
Dawg he said after KD left, aren’t those all with KD?
@@MayBeGiantworst roster ever and PG never shows up man wtf he got gamed on by Dame from half court
@@MayBeGiant KD lost with booker , he lost with kyrie and he got swept . Who cares when both of them played both of their contributions helped ok to win.
Is that you Clayton? LETS GO!!!
Bleacher report won free agency this year
Is Clayton Crowley working with Bleacher Report now?
You love to see it! He’s the best UA-camr that makes basketball players
Harden never beat russ out for 1st team all nba, harden was a SG and had little to no competition other then and aged Kobe , Westbrook battled with prime curry and cp3 for first team honours
You do know it’s just two guards right doesn’t matter if they are pg or a sg just matter if you were a top guard that season
It's harden for me. His offensive production during his prime was so good, he could be a one-man offense and still be top 15 in the league.
More like top 5**
its definitely Harden, even with those 27 missed threes the game was still close despite how bad it sounds and he was literally the only person to ever give that superteam trouble.
this is the most legit answer. during the entire warriors dynasty, only the rockets and spurs in the western conference put the warrior's back on the walls. and james harden was one of the main reasons for that. russ is good, hof worthy. but harden had a better career between the two, individual accolades, better playoff success as the main guy, more efficient, and making teammates better. russ knows that.
@@macvincemosquera9616PG had shoulder surgery after both years with Russ in okc … and PG tried to play through it and they lost in the playoffs .. but if you watch the thunder vs warriors in the 2017-18 season and 2018-19 season .. the thunder was putting on the warriors
bron did it or 1 game
1 game away from winning the championship. I’m a bronsexual but Lebron was not winning that series. Not with that team.
if rockets and cavs met during the 2018 finals, series would be over in 5. rockets over cavs. no disrespect to the king but he had a mid supporting cast that year. @@dobronx4771
Bro is that my boy Clayton Crowley on the voiceover!?
I gotta say Clayton, I pick Russ over Harden for the same reason I pick Tim Duncan 1st overall. They would make coming to work worth it. I know without a doubt in my mind that neither of them are going to ruin the culture of my workplace or my locker room if I’m a player, coach, or GM.
Russ has never helped out a team? He brought the wizards To the playoffs, something that hasn't happened in over 15 years
15 years?
Lol why u making stuff up? He took themm to the playoffs in 2020 but the Wizards were in the playoffs in 2017 and 2016. Before that they made the playoffs in 2013 and 2014.
There’s no reason to lie they were in the playoffs in 2017 and even made a deeper playoff run then 😂
James Harden has never missed the playoffs in his career, and he is the NBA’s scoring leader of the 2010s
good shit clayton
Need more vids like this good work bleacher report
Post kd russ had pg but the roster wasn’t constructed for his exact style of play like hardens. I’m not saying that’s anyone’s fault, however I bring that up to make a point. If he had the space that harden had in Houston all those years. The narrative would be way different.
And just what is a team that's built around russ gonna achieve. Not more than any harden led one, dude is less efficient, more hardheaded and more turnover prone
OP Absolute FACTS. That OKC traded key parts of that team like Ibaka and Deion Waiters to give KD an empty chequebook to re-sign, and the waiting period for that 🐍 meant most of the roster were gone as so much hinged on KD staying which everyone thought he would do , not realising he'd join the team that just beaten them.
The second comment a team similar to Lebrons or Giannis' teams in Milwaukee is more suited to Russ. I e. Great spot up 3 and D shooters , a Centre that's athletic and work in transition and sometimes shoot threes or mid ranges if necessary and a bench Point Guard that can moderate the pace of the game when he rests.
The goat getting exposure you love to see it
All you did was retell the story, you don’t mention the context of their teams and how it fit them, how Westbrook had terrible spacing and unoptimized teams. All the injuries that he played thru because of how bad the team was and you count it against him?
No one cares about "playing through injury". Why would anyone care? If they can play, then they play. Harden had a concussion during his whole series vs Spurs in 2017 but that doesnt stop people from roasting him losing to a Kawhi less spurs, and it shouldnt.
Russ never had a team built for him tho🤫
Brodie just had broken rosters from free agency lol
They got him PG and Melo
Melo was 100 and PG13 was hurt his OKC stint c'mon now
I don't see how bringing in Melo is building a team for anyone. Russ never had elite floor spacers. It was kinda like the bulls when D rose was mvp. Very easy style of basketball ball to guard in the playoffs
He has. They got him great scoring around him and a top 7 defence and he couldn’t win anything. Losing to the jazz and blazers is inexcusable. Also shooting under 40% is mad wild. Harden is better not close
Just say you hate Harden. You bashed him the whole video. Smh. Hate him cause you ain't him.
Great video clayton
Perfect video
It’s Harden but Russ is a great player and deserves all his flowers
Westbrook clears
Westbrook gaps tf
Total b.s
@@adamduffy-castaldo1189Harden has been top 3 in mvp like 6 times. Russ has been top 3 once
Westbrook of course
ur tripping
Harden was top 3 in mvp voting like 6-7 times. Russ only got there once.
No way Clayton is on BR no wonder why he hasn’t been uploading videos 😂😂😂
This difficult because Harden offensively is the more efficient player over history but Westbrook was a 2 way player even tho he was never a lockdown defender he was willing unlike Prime Harden
Westbrook ain't no two way player
Never lol
@@MarkLaw13he is when need be .. he was a defensive player of year in college
@@MarkLaw13grown ass man with a female as his profile pic😭😭😭 you do not know basketball
@@stuntmandaniels3323College! Come on, you don't seriously think that is a legit argument, right?
Just commenting ti show support
Westbrook, not even close. One guy is one of the most unstoppable players of all time, never takes a night off, makes scoring look easy. One is a cancer to your team, needs a lot of free throws, he turns the ball over just as much as Westbrook.
Need what you smoking lol
@@devonlatrell5767 Don't hate cause I'm right.
This is a bad take lol. Russ has taken a lot of free throws and also shooting 40% in the playoffs doesn’t make your scoring look easy 😂
@orangejuice1386 Russ doesn't flop like a baby and he's had to play on trash teams wether in OKC, or Washington.
@@Ingenuity009 no he was the one that was trash. Harden can carry a team pass the first round Russ can not simple as that bro
By far the best content that Bleacher Report have ever put out.
Clayton!!! Congrats and well deserved big kan
I’d take russ simply because we haven’t seen a healthy version of him in the playoffs aside from the clippers since 2017, and harden has had good playoff performances but tends to choke when it really matters, albeit Russ and kd did choke in 2016 as well
CLAYTON HAS MADE IT😭😭😭😭
Clayton Crowley back with another superb analysis!
Super smart move bringing in Clayton. Dude is the GOAT of basketball UA-cam.
Hey is that Clayton Crowley I hear?
Russ never been an elite defender? He’s been snubbed for all defensive teams especially in 2017-2018. Many points in this discussion are flawed
This guy is good
i like clayton crowley, please continue letting him make videos and please continue giving him money
Clayton Crowley on BR. WOW!!
Would be nice if Clayton and his channel were credited in the description
So glad to see Clayton Crowley here. May he enjoy many happy returns.
James harden is the greatest lefty ever. Top 3 shooting guard ever. Top 3 3pts made. Two time assist leader 3 time scoring champ. First 6man of the year award winner to MVP. His game isn’t appreciated now but it will be in the future when he’s gone
I know that voice anywhere...Clayton👊🏾
I think he did more criticism than explaining who had the better career
IT'S A TIE. BOTH ARE HALL OF FAMERS.
Jokic is coming after that triple double record tho
I can't compare these two cause i grew to love both. When they went up against the Heat in the finals i only knew who Kevin Durant was, and i was going for the Heat. Right now, I want L.A Clipps to go all the way. 🚀
Let’s not act like Russ was holding the thunder back when kd left. Who else was going to carry that team? Roberson? Steven Adam’s? Alex abrines?
Russ has the more iconic MVP season, way more entertaining player, way more playoff performances and iconic moments. No slight on Harden but he’s a productive machine while being boring to watch. His stepback changed the game though
As a massive Westbrook fan, it's Harden. Man averaged 36 for a season, averaged a 50-point triple double for a period of time in 2019, led his team further than Russ, and was a far better shooter and similar caliber passer.
dude said averaged 36 for a season like russ ain’t average a triple double three seasons in a row 😂
It's Russ and Harden isn't even close.
It's definitely harden no contest, better playmaker and can score on every level and has had better playoff runs. No hate on russ but facts are facts.
@@talibinif I’m not mistaken Russ has more triple doubles than majority of the entire active NBA combined. On top of that he is solidified in the history record books for triple doubles.
I think Harden is good too. But they play completely different. Both seem to have different work ethics as well. Russ is more giving and willing to adjust as needed. Harden just goes out and balls to his own benefit.
@njabulozwane6783 Westbrook is sitting at 9.k all time assists while James is at 7.k. playoffs are hard to judge due to all of the injuries, but they've both reached the same exact heights. Westbrook has shown he could lead terrible teams when he led Okc (because they never recovered from durant leaving)and Washington to the playoffs. Harden was expected to make the finals with a complete team and still managed to miss 21 straight 3's against the Warriors. Not to mention his generational falloff in the playoffs because his game revolves around being fouled.
why do people always have to put one person down and lift the other one up= i like both and they are brother and love each other, I was in Oklahoma when they both played together, they where so young they didnt realy understand how to play together but now they are older and they are doing good together. both are MVP
There are only 25 players in the history of the NBA that scores 25k points and Harden and Westbrook are in that 25. They both made the top 75 list of players as well. They are both first ballot future hall a famers so at the end of the day they both did great
Ironically both their careers kinda eclipse in a way if you think about it, although harden won more series as the best player on the team, they are both notoriously known for stinking it up in the playoffs, both players were on a decline at the same time period until they both found a way to remain valuable again, with Russ sacrificing off the bench and with harden willingly taking a backseat to embiid and now Kawhi and PG, Russ triple doubles kinda equals out harden averaging 36 PPG and 30+ PPG at that, despite the multiple 40 and 50 point games from harden, they both peaked within the same time period 2016-2020 that 4 year gap
Love this video
The OKC trio was actually balanced that’s the lesson there
KD to rise as a leader the most efficient and the killer
Westbrook to defer in the critical moments and focus on rebounds and defense with his relentless display every second
Harden to be the floor general in
Just think...okc had a superteam b4 superteams..three 1st ballot hofrs scoring champs mvps and champion...but cudnt work together because of russ...if they joined forces today it would be monumental and devastating to the league ! Imagine them in brooklyn with russ coming off the bench....sheeeesh...i say brooklyn because their bench and roll players are fukkin crazy...all they need is them
They like brothers of the nba…two peas in a pod
Harden. No debate
These dudes in the comments section think that he had a lot of help in his Houston career, harden made them elite not another way around. Harden only got ang aging cp3 & Howard in his prime and a bunch of nobody. No superstar no all star at best.
If you want to argue his support cast, where are they now? Capela only shine because of harden look where he is now? Even tho he is in his prime he regress fast. He dominating in gsw era and a borderline allstar but now look at him?
Gorden is only relevant when he was with harden, dude so irrelevant for years after harden left Houston.
And the other just can’t find a team after that Houston era and the others retired.
For context lebron couldn’t even crack a single game ỉn playoff series against the greatest team that had been built and that’s a “2018 bron” who considered by the most the most complete version bron. 😏 meanwhile harden and cp3 and a bunch nobody went toe to toe against gsw nearly beating them.
So who had a better team? Or maybe who was the better leader??? 🤔
Thought that voice sounded familiar.
Russ gets standing ovations when he comes off the bench in OKC and Washington from his former team's fans.
Harden’s career is better and it’s not all that close
Clayton Crowley best nba UA-cam 🙌🏼
Harden as a first option at least made it to the conference finals a couple times. Westbrook as a first option never made it out of the first round. Case closed.
Lol what kind of argument is this?
harden is much better, lefraud got swept by the kd warriors while harden went 3-4 and 2-4 with mid teammates@@phillyp2330
@@phillyp2330 bad argument but its harden either way
@phillyp2330 exactly. That's more of an indictment on Okc management than Russ. Even those Pg teams were too frontloaded with Russ and Pg doing everything. Him losing to a young Donovan Mitchell was a bad look but again those Okc teams weren't good.
@@phillyp2330 Russ is a losing player and stat padder as the first option. At least harden made the rockets contenders even if he is a playoff choker. Even lebron couldn’t make the play in with Westbrook.
Give me the guy that gives 110% every single game and doesn't quit. Harden obviously is the better player but has proven to play when he feels like playing.
Definitely Westbrook
Westbrick is a stat padder and Harden is a born Play off chocker so its a hard choice
Lol
You can say harden is better than westbrick. Oh pardon me I mean Westbrook.
maaaaaaybe. he doesnt play from the bench so maybe you are right :P IDK neither got a champ ring and thats what matter so if they win this season its a tie I guess... but I would put russ in the starting 5 its thats a 7th game tbh@@samuelottah6321
harden def better between the two harden was the best player in the world for years he arguablly top 5 player in the game right now i think when its all said and done he will be top 10 all time
It won't take decades for someone to break Westbrook's triple double record
Jokic will do it in a few years tops
For real Westbrook started the dribble looking normal jokic made it to where you can actually win doing it
why drop that when both are team mates yall trynna start a sneaky beef Fr
Westbrook is absolutely a superior defender this year. Hands down.
clayton crowley my beloved
Not a Harden fan by any means, but harden's better with little to no debate.
Its Harden easily
Russ best playoff game was in the finals of 2012 where he scored 43 in a losing fashion
It’s Harden but Russ is Him too
I’ve always loved Westbrooks game because he tries his absolute hardest
Russ all day
If you think Westbrook. You probably just don’t like harden or a in denial okc fan. Numbers and wins don’t lie
Harden lez go. Hes jist shit when it matters. Maybe he's smarter than we thought and gets cold feet whenever shits on the line thats why he chokes.
Dude named every single way a man can possible score n then said “kinda boring” 😂😂😂 man first take ruined yall
All I got to say if Westbrook
And harden didn’t had to go against gsw they would not have this must hate imagine kd got less hate then Westbrook and harden smh
“Curry Durant warriors”😂😂😂
Should have stayed a role player just like in okc maybe he’ll have a ring 💍 by now who knows?
That joker run left the ball let his opponent took the ball and scored.
Clippers: Why not both?
Seems comparable to the Kobe lebron debate.
All the excuses y’all are making for Brodie all could be said about harden. The simple fact is harden is a winner and Westbrook isn’t that’s why we used to beat the shit out of the thunder when he was there. And don’t act like Westbrook never had a good team. Because those teams were just as if not more talented than the rockets.
Ball IQ/Talent/Peak - Harden
Will/Hardwork/Intensity - Russ
Westbrook has an overall winning record...
In fairness to Russ, much of his bad rep about shooting only happened when he was with the Lakers. That being said, he was never the franchise player he was portrayed to be. Hardwork cannot cover lack of talent all the time.
Harden
after Harden went to huston, he was better than russ every single season till today (yeah even the year westbrook got his statpadded mvp)
Not just saying this because I am a Clippers fan, but this was a little unfair to Harden with his time in Brooklyn and Philly. With Brooklyn, the narrator did get it right that the Nets were dysfunctional. He asked for a trade after KD had demanded a trade in that prior offseason and wanted Steve Nash fired from the head coach position. There was also the issue of Kyrie playing/not playing due to not getting vaccinated for COVID and his propensity to take random days off. Nobody in their right mind would NOT want out of that dysfunctional situation. With regards to Philly, the narrator and everyone else in the media conveniently forget that Embiid was hurt and missed some games in the playoffs. Harden put up a couple of 40 point games. He also had beef with Morey due to apparently Morey reneging on a promise to pay him for him taking his taking less. With Houston, I put blame on him for that. Due to the multiple trade demands, Harden is unfavorable and has bad optics, but don't forget the nuance and facts of the situation. You're honestly painting with an EXTREMELY broad brush here. Plus, if the Clippers win the championship this year, nobody will care what this video has to say anymore.
Westbrook for me no doubt about it.
Brodie… SIMPLE