Allen Iverson: 'I'm the biggest Westbrook fan'
Allen Iverson stole the hearts of basketball fans the world over by playing with reckless abandon over his 14-year NBA career, often taking his fair share of lumps as the smallest player on the court most nights.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Iverson counts himself among Russell Westbrook's staunchest supporters.
"I'm the biggest Westbrook fan I think there is," Iverson said during an appearance on the 76ers' telecast Wednesday.
"He reminds me so much of myself as far as his heart, laying it on the line night in and night out. Just bringing it every single night," the former MVP added.
Westbrook, who may claim the Maurice Podoloff Trophy himself this season, isn't undersized like Iverson was, but he's certainly rewritten the book on how to play the game at full throttle at all times.
As a reference, here's how the high-octane guards compare through seven NBA seasons.
| Stats Through 7 seasons | Iverson | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|
| USG | 32.6 | 31.0 |
| PPG | 27.0 | 20.9 |
| APG | 5.6 | 7.1 |
| RPG | 4.1 | 5.2 |
| SPG | 2.4 | 1.7 |
| TS% | 50.7 | 52.5 |
| PER | 21.0 | 22.0 |
Iverson scored more prolifically as the clear No. 1 option in Philadelphia, while Westbrook has scored more efficiently and put together the more complete game while sharing the floor with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City. Both players, as expected, posted insane usage rates.
- With h/t to CSNPhilly.com