National Basketball Association

Why Russell Westbrook won't lead the Thunder to an NBA title

Published Dec. 9, 2016 12:32 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

Russell Westbrook did what he does best Wednesday night, throwing down a massive left-handed dunk to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a clutch win over the Houston Rockets.

Colin Cowherd, though, isn't convinced the stat-stuffing Westbrook has what it takes to lead the Thunder to a title — either this year or in the foreseeable future. In fact, he said on Thursday's "The Herd," Cowherd considers Westbrook the Scottie Pippen to Kevin Durant's Michael Jordan:

"There's a big difference between a vice president and a president. We all know that, right? There's a big difference between an offensive coordinator and a head coach. A lot of coordinators are bad head coaches, but they're great, great coordinators. There's a big difference between calling the shots and having your boss do it, and you react to the shots he called."

"A lot of guys in the NBA are twos, but the media and fans project them as ones. And being a one isn't just about talent. Certainly, you have to have Tim Duncan talent. Certainly, you have to have LeBron, KD talent. But the other part of being a one — and this is why Carmelo Anthony has never been a one to me, nor James Harden, nor Russell Westbrook — they don't have the self-awareness and the maturity. ...

"It's not just talent. You gotta know when to say stuff, what to say, what not to say, and it takes a unique self-awareness, because most of these athletes are young. When Scottie Pippen was elevated from a two to a one, he imploded. ...

"Now, I've always told you Kevin Durant is a No. 1. ... So yesterday, Russell Westbrook — knowing that many people have already written that he's a loner, knowing that his stats say he can be selfish, knowing that Kevin Durant left him because he's hard to play with and really into Westbrook — Westbrook was asked a question about watching film and lacked the self-awareness and said, 'I don't watch film; I'd rather play video games.'

"Russell Westbrook, my friends, is a two."

Cowherd pointed to one interaction in particular between Westbrook and Durant which illustrates the difference between the two stars — but his assertion would not go unchallenged. Nick Wright joined "The Herd" to defend Westbrook's film quote and offer a loud rebuttal to Cowherd's perspective:

"You mentioned, if we go back to the beginning, and you mentioned all the ones. You're like, 'Magic was a one. Michael was a one. Bird, LeBron, Duncan.' You know what all those guys have in common? That's five of the eight greatest players in the history of the sport. I fold my hand. I concede. Russ is not going to be one of the eight greatest players in the history of the sport.

"But he's one of the five greatest players playing right now. And if we tear him down for what he's not — if Russell Westbrook's not good enough ... what that means is in a league of 360 players, 358 of them aren't good enough."