Will Russell Westbrook finish with a better career than Allen Iverson? First Take debates

Will Russell Westbrook finish with a better career than Allen Iverson? First Take debates
Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, and Kendrick Perkins debate whether Russell Westbrook will finish with a better career than Allen Iverson.
#FirstTake #NBA
0:00 Kendrick Perkins says we will never see another player like Russell Westbrook in our lifetime.
2:00 Max Kellerman says Allen Iverson has the better career than Russell Westbrook.
4:00 Stephen A. shares his thoughts on whether Westbrook will finish with a better career than Iverson.
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[@bleeperton181]

Max missed the golden opportunity to say "The answer to that question is: The Answer"

[@dancepro67]

Skip would have jumped all over it

[@dannysmith1538]

Right

[@e61agem]

O

[@sonder333]

@@dancepro67 W

[@beanteam2217]

Westbrook has the better career

[@IanGoldsmithCreate]

My favorite part about this video is when Perk says "Allen Iverson two time scoring champ, Russell got one" and then IMMEDIATELY ESPN puts up a graphic saying they have 4 and 2 lololol

[@247hustler]

Lol I was about to go apeshit when he said that cuz I know the facts...ESPN was clutch with that one lol

[@SherwoodSavage225BR]

🤣💀

[@swehyaht605]

I think this Goldsmith dude works for ESPN Production staff and is responsible for populating that error correction and just wanted to give himself some clout 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 WHich is why that is his favorite part

[@BlackPRanger]

That’s what he get for working from home

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Ikr?!

[@sonabTV]

"Molly, what do I think? Listen. I'm start off by saying this." I often fell like 90% of what perk syas doesn't mean anything.

[@Bonescratcher]

Haha so true. I don’t even know why he is on tv

[@coolndon9682]

When Stephen A brought up the 3-1 situation with golden state with kd on the team big perks was like yea AI got it 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@Avo_KwameGod]

😂😂😂😂💯

[@Avo_KwameGod]

Aye he stull avg triple double i gotta give it to westbrook

[@GreenlightBze]

Ai would’ve killed them in that situation. Westbrook lost sight of the goal .

[@lostinawareness7979]

Iverson completely changed the culture of the NBA. He had kids cutting up socks and stockings to use as arm sleeves lmao

[@HomerunsamSOSA]

I'm kids

[@canteenpapi3040]

I told my mom I wanted braids in 6th grade because of him lol

[@PrincipalSkinner3190]

Culturally AI wins, Basketball Russ wins

[@justdoit8415]

On god he did...

[@miketooshifty5900]

That’s true but how does that prove that he’s a better basketball player than Russ?

[@playmak3r_]

We should just appreciate Westbrook’s greatness without having to compare him to someone like Iverson

[@DigitalDuelistsGaming]

I agree

[@Shownnlights]

Preach my brother🗣

[@henri6902]

agreed

[@tobycroxford6100]

🙏

[@iam_ad629]

Shidddd why not compare Russell carry teams like Allen

[@Richiefreshhh]

04:44 The way Max kept looking into the Camera at Perk when Stephen A was stating Iverson's Greatness 😂

[@jhonc2725]

Thank You! SAS

[@adamstreetboyzz]

Iverson was on his own for most of his career. he didn't get a star till Nuggets

[@abuhassan8849]

2008 Nuggets got swept in the 1st round with AI. The 2009 Nuggets lost WCF in 6 games after Billups replaced AI.

[@therealneal3034]

I’m not disagreeing with the star part, but AI did have DPOY Dikembe Mutombo during his Finals run.

[@theach84]

But AI was finished by then. Denver still had 1 all star then bc AI was washed by then.

[@alexanderadonyae7937]

@@abuhassan8849 true

[@fashionlife5348]

Iverson faced Jordan and kobe with Shaq and the Kevin Garnet in his prime just take that into consideration Westbrook couldn’t make it out first round when Kevin Durant left

[@trill6469]

Wait. Wasn’t Kendrick part of that 2012 Okc team ? Stephen A so disrespectful man 😂

[@hatakeanime1254]

🤣🤣🤣

[@2waysuperstar390]

Wait Stephen A actually took a shot at Kendrick for the first time 😭

[@RecapRico]

@@2waysuperstar390 Stephen A said in multiple occasions Kendrick Perkins can't jump over a phone book

[@2waysuperstar390]

BigBody Gaming He did 😭😭😭

[@Virtualcritic111]

Kendrick wasn’t a factor he just was just crashing the boards and getting easy buckets

[@srdjankovic]

Westbrook 2016-2017 season was something else...man was clutch beyond belief and on a whole another level. We are seeing glimpses of it today...

[@darkjetstar]

Did he win during that year?

[@WindyCityNick]

@@darkjetstar What year did AI get his ring??

[@darkjetstar]

@@WindyCityNick imagine having KD and harden and having a double double and not winning. Then niggas lost a 3-1 lead 💀 “is this your king?!”

[@WindyCityNick]

@@darkjetstar KD went 10-31 and 11-30 in like two of those games. Also who did AI play to get to the finals? What is AI honestly better at than Russ? His FG % is worse, he’s a worse rebounder and passer. The only thing he has his steals but he’s never even been an all defensive player.

[@brevnovak]

@@WindyCityNick fg%? ia had for all his shooting positions work hard. very hard. all teams were focusing on him. if russell was in his position in that era, his numbers would be at 60% of his today's.

[@ShaggyWayne]

4:31 "Foul for having a bad breath" Stephen A.. Bruh I'm dead 💀

[@testadizzy95]

When 76ers went against Lakers in the final, everyone in my high school rooted for AI. To see a player with his size fearlessly challenges the most unstoppable force in the NBA, it’s almost like watching a real life David vs Goliath. His heart, his tenacity, his courage, his style has forever changed so many ppl’s lives.

[@nikchris69]

too many simps on your school

[@rodmancrump4709]

He gave the Lakers their only loss in the playoffs. They were sweeping everyone. People forget that!

[@malikrevis6896]

Jimmy butler beat the Lakers twice, doesn’t mean they won.

[@rodmancrump4709]

@@malikrevis6896 completely different lakers. Different era of basketball. If you were to young to witness greatness just say that then. I'm 31.

[@theofficialratchettimez6956]

Yeen never lied about that. Ai is thee goat 🐐

[@brendafirebrand8810]

Both these guys play like it is their last game - major respect for playing hard at all times to AI and Westbrook!

[@kingofpendragon]

Stop reciting stupid cliches, dummy

[@Frank-nz1wr]

@@kingofpendragon u corny boy, she just tryna give props and u in here dissin

[@joshuam8243]

@@kingofpendragon stop being weird weirdo

[@tyrushorn5918]

I’ll take Dame over Westbrook 👀

[@alijaber9279]

No mvps. Russ has more all stars . All nba firsts. Scoring titles. He has everything more then dame

[@jordancheesebourough6145]

@@alijaber9279 dat doesn’t mean shid give Dame Kd see wat happens 😂😂😂

[@Jtyonbronruss]

Same over Russ???? Did you start watching basketball last year 😂😂😂

[@Jtyonbronruss]

@@jordancheesebourough6145 if Russ is better than dame… then how would he- nvm. Stop boosting. Dame lost to a injured Nuggets team that the non-playoff Suns swept with a young Devin Booker 😂😂😂 y’all swear dame is so hard

[@tyrushorn5918]

@@Jtyonbronruss That same Suns team beat Lebron and AD. Also don’t forget it took Dame only 5 games to beat Westbrook, PG, and Melo too.

[@ryanrecher6542]

Stephen A literally had in his notes that Russ never been to a finals. Lmaooo

[@geeeee8320]

Facts

[@chillbutton2986]

Without KD

[@Jtyonbronruss]

@@chillbutton2986 how many finals kd been to without a super team?

[@chillbutton2986]

@@Jtyonbronruss 2012, thunder were good but they were young and still pre prime

[@Jtyonbronruss]

@@chillbutton2986 ……… so with Russ… and KD hasnt been to a finals without Russ, Steph and 4 more all stars. What happened this year when he was supposed to carry like LeBron? Cmon now clap back harder.

[@bancopop3133]

I'm always puzzled as to why when analysts mention AI's career that they never mention Iverson also led the league in steals 3 times...in his MVP year he led the league in scoring, steals, and minutes🤯 Put some respect on the legend Iverson name!!

[@westbeast8293]

Well russ clearly is the better player and has the better career and did you forget russ averaged a triple double for 4 seasons? AI is a great player but he isn’t a good defender and not a good teammate and can’t play the point guard position well and can’t facilitate an offense. Russ can do all those things that Allen iverson cant

[@jpinfinity3758]

@@westbeast8293 don't make me laugh russel is all stats he can't win when it matters most

[@bancopop3133]

@@westbeast8293 By your margin of greatness that you have attributed to Russ then you'd make him out to be better than Lebron, Kobe, Jordan lol...Russ has been surrounded with A1 talent for the large majority of his career unlike AI. Iverson wasn't afforded the opportunity to do what Russ has been afforded as far as being a ball dominant PG for those very reasons. Russ can't hold Iversons jock strap!

[@westbeast8293]

@@jpinfinity3758 cap talk lmao

[@westbeast8293]

@@jpinfinity3758 well he shoots the highest percentage for clutch points so that’s wrong

[@zacqueeentertainment7336]

AI is so disrespected. You had to witness his greatness or you wouldn’t understand how unguardable he was. Another one like this is Kevin Johnson. You had to be there.

[@newera5238]

I agree with you 100% people get caught up at looking at statistics but Allen Iverson's heart and bravery will never show up on paper

[@Rathkan]

And Russ isn't disrespected? He's the most over hated player in the NBA

[@trugee5848]

@@Rathkan over rated

[@djsuperrap6685]

I sure wish I did now I'm not gonna get the chance to

[@shayanmardanbeigi2697]

Allen Iverson was what Steph Curry is to the modern generation

[@bigmac5066]

Iverson is a legend, Westbrook isn’t on AI level.

[@tterryleft]

Not on his level the man broke a 47 yr record nobody thought could be broken. Russ true dbl 4x. Everyone in history 1 time. Get outta here man. Iverson's better scorer. Russ better Player not even close

[@Jtyonbronruss]

How? AI has no rings just like Russ. Stop boosting. One is doing something never has done before

[@MichaelFlemming1]

This is one of those debates where you answer it quickly and lets move on to more serious topics.

[@2011phill]

facts

[@HitmanEF]

Iverson literally carried his team. Metaphysically, mentally, physically, physcholigically.... all the lly's

[@GunninRebel55]

Carried them where?? 🤔

[@obiocha4230]

@@GunninRebel55 to the nba finals vs lakers

[@GunninRebel55]

@@obiocha4230 Okay. Is that supposed to mean something? Russ made it to the finals at a younger age with OKC and went toe- to-toe with LeBron & D Wade while KD was scared. AI has one thing and one thing only on Russ and that’s scoring. Oh and he’s more popular. Westbrook’s career is far from over too. I got money on him getting at least one title and playing a major role in doing so. DGMW though I love AI so it’s no disrespect to him. Russ just different.

[@money0925]

Ily too

[@jaydenloganavery]

@@GunninRebel55 actually AI is arguably as good or a better defender than Westbrook. AI is also definitely a better ball handler.

[@ciaronsmith4995]

Man I'll never forget AI doing that behind the back dribble against B. Shaw in Game 2 of the 2001 finals. AI was a genius.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Truly!

[@davinavila5668]

I agree with Max and Steven A , well said.

[@giorokssi480]

I lost it when stephen. A was about to say Westbrook never been to the finals 😂😂😂

[@_m1gu3l13]

I was like fr 😭

[@underratedszn6549]

And than said that Iverson never had a teammate like harden KD or Paul George when Iverson played with Carmelo when melo was an absolute god

[@marquezbishop2747]

@@underratedszn6549 yes, AI played with melo for two years when he nearing the end of his career smart one

[@leroyrodgers6089]

Imagine AI, stepping over Ty Lue now....dude might get thrown out of the game.....

[@nikivory6891]

Doubt it. LeBron did it to Draymond Green and the NBA threw DRAYMOND out for it lol

[@kelvinoliver5439]

@@nikivory6891 draymond kicked Lebron tho

[@chibueze4597]

@@kelvinoliver5439 bro then they should’ve stopped the game when draymond was about to trip him but they continued it draymond didn’t get suspended or ejected cause of that buddy

[@jgreed5]

@@nikivory6891 I think lebron’s was WAAAYYY worst. How dray got suspended is beyond me. I hate lebron but hate aside that was totally uncalled for

[@Kaibeast-kv1xu]

@@kelvinoliver5439his leg barely touched him

[@MrEpalmer1]

Iverson led the nba in scoring and steals in same year 3times and never saw an all defensive team, that’s unheard of

[@bluesrockfan36]

Because he wasn't a good defender. Regardless, everyone knows the all-defensive team is just media b.s. So maybe that's the reason. Same reason Pst Bev gets it but Jrue Holliday doesn't.

[@MrEpalmer1]

@@bluesrockfan36 nobody who’s led the league in steals and not seen an all defensive team... ion care how you paint it..... big men aren’t always on the ball but get defensive awards for blocking shots .... so miss me with that

[@presleychan3625]

@@MrEpalmer1 having a lot of steals doesn't mean ur a good defender. It just means you take lots of risks of defense. Even curry averages a bunch of steals and we all know he's not a good defender

[@bluesrockfan36]

@@MrEpalmer1 Plenty of players led the league in steals and didn't make an all defensive team. Westbrook and Harden among them.

[@yeatdagoat173]

Curry did that too

[@devmanboy8316]

I say yes, even Allen Iverson evolutionized the game with is incredible smooth style, Russ is to. Russ is showing short people that if they work at it at they can hammer the ball, play good defense and be stronger than half the league. I got friends under 5'10 dunking the ball just cuz they Russ fans and see him do it even though he's 6'3 that's still short to the things he capable of.

[@floonk1]

I remember watching Lakers vs 76ers in the playoffs Kobe vs Iverson ..classic

[@oluwaseunagboni4106]

Kobe Bryant said it all " thank God Allen Iverson was a 6t 8 guard"

[@user-hw7vx7yz2e]

If he was taller, he would have been slower. It was his quickness that saved him.

[@dbutta2496]

@@user-hw7vx7yz2e shut up sound crazy

[@user-hw7vx7yz2e]

@@dbutta2496 you dumb, guess you don't know the human body. Dickhead

[@minhanhle4027]

@@user-hw7vx7yz2e i think he can still do it, even better. just not as how we saw him. being bigger help him play basketball better and he can still learn all those skills. we have some examples like KD. he might be slightly slower but he can be deadlier for sure

[@awinzuuu]

@@user-hw7vx7yz2e do you think that would stop him from being the best lmao

[@russiadavidson3990]

Iverson is ICONIC...

[@gdc6153]

FAAAAACTTTSS

[@Dakidpepe]

Westbrook played with 2 hof players & 2 all stars. Can't say he never got help unlike Iverson.

[@bluesrockfan36]

@@Dakidpepe Chris Webber? Carmelo Anthony? Dikembe Mutombo? He had plenty of help.

[@russiadavidson3990]

@H DG ummm... NO!

[@russiadavidson3990]

@H DG at least not yet... Honestly, I don't think he could really do anything that would make him as Iconic as The Answer!

[@levardeloach9770]

This was a good debate no doubt

[@lamonimita3422]

Why do people also forget that Iverson started the whole 30points 10assist culture that Lebron, Harden, Westbrook took to new heights. Before Iverson's 2004/05 season, no one was dropping regular 30p/10a games for the majority of a season.

[@andinetbogale4228]

No he didn't. The guy was giving you 30 and 5. Oscar started that

[@kvngcjgaming5559]

Lmao you sound stupid asf. Iverson wasn’t a passer at all

[@paulgas819]

@@kvngcjgaming5559 7.5 APG in his career. Yeah right.

[@realtrenorton]

If Allen Iverson played with KD... I’ll just leave that there, this isn’t a question 😂

[@freakhead10]

Ehhh...they were very young at the time and they still got to the finals which means something.

[@kritav1111]

Yeah, exact same result.

[@chewyyo3383]

Naw, we seen AI with Denver not working out Just for a older billups take him to the WCF the next season

[@michaeljordanbestplayereve1428]

@@freakhead10 Lol Westbrook Played With Prime Kd lmfao.

[@sugu8403]

Factsssss

[@queens2nd2none]

Iverson changed the game .. the NBA literally made the NBA change their entire rule book. It's AI, hands down, no question about it. I'll take that with me all the way to the afterlife. Max and Steven are both right

[@coachtee6394]

What on court rule was changed because of A.I. ? I'll wait...🤔

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Absolutely!

[@davidgivins1685]

@@coachtee6394 that's what I want to know! The league allow carrying with a i!🤔

[@strangerthanparadise]

Bruh AI didn't play alongside another Mvp in his career, let alone dream of having 2 on his team

[@travistravis7190]

Yes its true, you can say about Westbrook that MVP caliber players were happy to be on his team and play alongside him. PG13 even was in MVP conversations whilst playing with Westbrook. The one year after KD did leave Russ and left OKC with a very weak lineup void of stars..what happened...Russ won the MVP and OKC made the playoffs. The catch phrase of current era is "he makes other players better". Can we say that about Iverson..no. Makes it tough to compare when star players never chose to play with you.

[@TheDeven1000]

If Russ continues to play the way he has been lately - focusing on setting up his teammates and ripping down rebounds with focus on points - he could really see his team have way more success. My favorite part of his big game recently was the 14pts (5/8) to go along with the 20+ assists and rebounds. It showed that he was focused on making the best play

[@babacarfall1276]

"You can get a foul for having bad breath" most accurate thing lmaoooo

[@bronxbengal5089]

ya its called " foul breath"

[@slymester]

@@bronxbengal5089 XD

[@bartsimpson6651]

@@bronxbengal5089 🐐😂😂

[@ricokingva]

he says this line every episode. he gotta switch it up lmao

[@washburn11000]

Ya it's pathetically soft now, no wonder ratings are plummeting

[@onidtubes]

It needs to be said that A.I. played through alot of injuries. Players today just sit out games because they are emotinally hurt or something.

[@onceuponasavage]

Russ just started sitting out games a couple years ago. Before that he always played 80+ games besides the year he hurt his knee

[@Popularmadeit]

Russ was playing with a injury with wizards

[@callidawkins85]

LoL 😂

[@princewya]

@chris salamihead 99% lol

[@tanng93]

Wish we could see AI in his prime playing on one of these modern, ridiculously stacked teams.

[@msmarch33192]

Why? So you could see him NOT pass the ball to his teammates.

[@deshawndodd7883]

@@oneskillpoint4669 They Didn't Have Billups They Traded A.I. For Billups

[@ricodarefcallingallfouls6624]

Before I got my growth spurt growing up AI was one of the PGs my pops told me to study....I watched the smaller guards to get pointers...I could dribble before I could shoot... really at that time all I cared about was dribbling...AI and hotsauce was my dudes..once I hit 6'3, 6'4, I started adding more ish to my game

[@nickwaldrop563]

"I mean no disrespect to those players on the team with iverson" Moments later : "Who was on that team?"

[@weliveinasimulation.]

Mutumbo, Ratliff, Bell, Snow, Mckie, Lynch, Hill.. sorry had to do it lol this team my childhood

[@turtleislandlac1490]

Dikembe is saying "no no no!"

[@randychappell980]

That team was built around AI. A great rebounding defending team who gave AI extra shots with their rebounding. Mutumbo, Ratliff, Bell, McKie -- great defenders. But they met a better defensive rebounding team in the Lakers.

[@davidgivins1685]

You all are delusional since A I didn't rebound, block shots! Defense was Philly staple! They had solid players to get to the finals!

[@davidgivins1685]

@@randychappell980 I wrote the same!

[@bansheeofinisheerin]

When ESPN is out of topics they do “comparison” segments

[@tigerhoods7927]

Facts 😂😂😂

[@aaronsansbury9514]

Yep they are very predictable

[@lilgucci6847]

Nun wrong with comparison segments

[@jaysouthmusic8230]

That's true it's ridiculous lol

[@bradley256]

This a good topic though AI and Russ are around the same rankings. Even though I got AI ahead

[@daiquanhouser459]

Preach Steven A

[@dirt7356]

The one thing common between Westbrook and AI is their on court mentality. It's good to see Brodie in the same conversation with AI .

[@maxmax9615]

A.I. The dude was a different type of athlete. If you really want to see Iverson in another light check out his Football clips. Iverson was an absolute MONSTER!

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Absolutely!

[@1977dclinton]

he talks about that stuff on the All the smoke podcast, that is one of the best interviews ive seen AI give.

[@ayhanceliktas3288]

We finna act like Westbrook aint no Maniac neither?

[@kobethegoat4l789]

@@ayhanceliktas3288 im saying tho Westbrook jumping out the gym 😂

[@MrC77]

Westbrook is just as athletic.

[@2waysuperstar390]

Wow this is a rare moment Stephen A smith and max kellerman are double teaming Kendrick Perkins 🤯 this is amazing 🤩

[@terryhicks8564]

Steven A... PREACHING today I needed that!

[@toddcardiss]

Big ups to both players so no comparison both in a class of there own both in a different time so that makes a difference

[@mauriciohiure2192]

bro when Stephen A started shouting FACT i was dying 😭

[@rustywestbrook3186]

Funny thing is he was wrong lol

[@leftbenchplayaa]

@@rustywestbrook3186 no he wasn’t. Look at who westbrook has played with compared to AI. it’s not debatable who’s played with more help. it’s westbrook by a long shot.

[@ivancolak8633]

@@leftbenchplayaa westbrook did play with good players but the rest of the team was never good. He had a duo and thats it. They traded Harden àway ffs. He also had bad coaching

[@jaCk-eo1lf]

@@rustywestbrook3186 oh oh you hurt bro?

[@JRMason-ri4ii]

@@leftbenchplayaa Carmelo >>>>> Oladipo, young OKC Harden

[@greenreignjah378]

They asked, "Will Westbrook finish with a better carrer than AI?" when they already know The Answer is Allen Iverson.

[@BayAreaHoops415]

A lot of their arguments didn't have much to do with individual player ability or have little to any proof to back up what they're saying. Max's final point was using AIs cultural impact and that alone gives him the edge, what does that have to do with who is the better basketball player. Allen Iverson was an amazing volume scorer, he would score a lot and take a ton of shots similar to Westbrook. But that was about it, his defense was pretty bad due to his size (steal leaders means nothing Harden and Curry lead the league in steals) he would gamble in passing lanes a lot. He wasn't the best passer and his career in general has been slightly overrated. If it wasn't for that 1 Finals game his ENTIRE legacy would look substantially different. Iverson got 38% from the field the rest of that Laker series, following that game 1 performance he shot 10-29. Why I think Westbrook is a clear better basketball player is Westbrook makes up for his inconsistent shooting everywhere else. Iverson didn't have that ability. If we are talking peaks, peak Westbrook had one of the greatest seasons ever and lets not forget, the 76ers success came from their defense. They were a top 5 defense every year, their whole style of success was built off defense not Iverson. If we want to account for longevity, impact, box creation, WS, DWS, PER, VORP, OBPM, BPM, eFG%, tS% Westbrook beats him. Facts > Nostalgia...

[@goat0472]

@@BayAreaHoops415 thank you man, people are not using facts just emotions and it's really annoying

[@dahir.curry30]

@@BayAreaHoops415 if you put Ai in the same situation as Westbrook when they were 3-1 up against Warriors I believe with Ai they will win. Westbrook will never be better than Ai!

[@BayAreaHoops415]

@@dahir.curry30 I don’t believe in hypotheticals in debates, there’s no way to prove that. Still haven’t seen any valuable information that proves Iverson to be a better basketball player, better volume scorer and that’s about it

[@Lildirt15]

@@BayAreaHoops415 bro this man had kd on his team and couldn’t win and you say he better than ai when ai ever have a Durant if Westbrook carry a nothing team to the finals then we can talk. For allen Iverson to only be a scorer that style got him to the finals Westbrook doing everything is his gift and curse that’s what you have teammates for if you gonna do everything what do you have them for? He takes away from his teammates more than ai did. I mean a.I. literally just shot the ball. Russ wants to shoot assist rebound and what does that leave for his teammates? Nothing but to sit and wait on what he is gonna do every single possession. Every possession wasn’t about ai it is about russ tho. And the question was better career not player bro and ai career was a strong one

[@yp1977]

Always AI fan, because of him I started watching nba and supported him against a lakers. Statistics don’t tell everything, watching AI was a joy.

[@Adam-iz3qs]

Allen Iverson led his team to the finals and took a game from Shaq/Kobe. Argument over.

[@letstalk140]

That doesn't make someone better tho Russ is a force of nature at 6ft3 i think hes stronger bigger more athletic

[@easyforezzy2024]

@@letstalk140 He still isn't better tho.

[@letstalk140]

@@easyforezzy2024 lmao hes past him

[@Mindag13]

Why does nobody argue for Carmelo like this against his peers. Lebron, Wade. Nobody ever talks about the lack of teammates Carmelo had in his prime

[@Mindag13]

@Aaron9 and it begins

[@princecheck11]

he chose to go to the knicks for money

[@datsapaddlin]

Carmelo played with Iverson Billups Westbrook Harden CP3 Amare and Paul George my guy.

[@Mindag13]

@@datsapaddlin he played with harden and CP for 10 games. He was no longer in his prime with Russ and PG. billions and AI were out of their primes when they played with him. Amare had one healthy year. And no healthy playoffs with Melo

[@Mindag13]

@@princecheck11 he went to the Knicks because he’s from New York and wanted to play there

[@theicon145]

Russell Westbrook has the greatest motor ever and Allen Iverson has the biggest heart ever, thats all

[@freshoftheoven965]

No way ,ai took that sorry team to the finals and was better compettition back then,Kendrick hes a noob

[@thsu8]

And you've got zero chance of winning a title with either as your best player. Two best athletes to ever play PG with respect to Derrick Rose, but they lack what Skip Bayless calls "winning intangibles."

[@anthonys9892]

You said it! Greatest motor on neutral revs high but doesn't go anywhere!!

[@tadeokrzos2550]

I think that AI had the best prime. Meaning that prime AI with literally no all stars or superstars on his team could literally carry a franchise on his own with his elite scoring and handling ability to a finals.

[@donovancrain534]

Iverson has the greatest motor

[@brianpearson8153]

Only their energy towards the game is similar, and I might still give that to AI. he was everywhere on the court.

[@xxwai169xx]

You got the Anwser!

[@boyleheights9280]

AI was the best pound for pound player I’ve seen play this game .

[@Vonteehoova]

FACTS anybody under 25 wouldn’t understand

[@brucebruce7065]

A.I. was great but he broke down while Westbrook has literally just gotten better with time even after all the injuries.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Absolutely! I often say that.

[@rakantarabzouni3650]

@@brucebruce7065 I think that's why everyone loved him to death. He played the most minutes in the league, with a ferocity that no one has ever seen, often through multiple injuries. He gave the city of Philadelphia literally everything he had and it showed everytime you watched him.

[@TRINI818]

Had he lifted weights, or work on his body he would have had a long career. He never had the fairy tale career the day he left Philly.

[@stephforthree862]

We should respect Russ because every night he leaves his soul and heart on the field and plays with incredible passion and there are very few such players left.

[@pbCafe]

I dont think thats true (that there are no players like that) but are you working hard or working smart ?

[@SeanBankin]

If you dont think EVERY pro athlete in any sports plays just as hard and passionate, you're being willfully blind. Westbrooks just shows the emotion more.

[@isaiahharris3955]

@@SeanBankin you’re trippin. Only a rarified group of players in the sport of basketball play as hard as Westbrook. Just cuz they’re in the league don’t mean they play hard every night. NBA players even say lots of guys stop working hard altogether once they get to the league.

[@mszescobar3553]

Russ is the reason he will never win a championship he’s a ball hog who stacks up stats

[@20k200]

@@SeanBankin no they don’t. If that was the case then everyone would be as good as Westbrook

[@benfrankz2507]

Yes 🙌

[@Rav56nessMag1c]

Can we see stephen a and skip vs shannon and max kellerman debate show? I would pay money to see that

[@damontate9667]

Max looks so happy that they aren’t teaming up on him😂

[@ian3087]

Perkins just always sided with arguments that can save him from hate and piling up his credibility as an analyst. Max is the only one in espn that fair and unbias.

[@rubencvc8191]

@@ian3087 IGUODALA

[@kweezy9224]

@@rubencvc8191 other than that one😂😂😂😂

[@MikeJay-on5tt]

Let's see can Russ make it to the finals with a weak team against a juggernaut of a team like Allen Iverson did in 2001 against the Lakers and make a memorable play like Allen Iverson did against T-Lue.

[@sencillo96]

Facts ....

[@ren3480]

@Leland Joseph stop

[@tomorr7176]

Did Iverson ever average a triple double?

[@bubbles1525_]

@Leland Joseph that's hilarious

[@bubbles1525_]

@@tomorr7176 it's sucks averaging a triple double and not in talks of top nba player, iverson was in that conversation

[@vondon9610]

“Big perc, my lil big bro” 😂 lmao

[@guccigucci5002]

iverson was an icon but he could only score. nobody will ever duplicate what russ has done

[@JewelzFinazzo]

Iverson did a lot more than just score. He also led the league in steals. And he had great defense. He was an extremely good two way player.

[@guccigucci5002]

@@JewelzFinazzo he was horrible on defense. like james harden he would go for a lot of steals but was horrible at letting people score on him

[@perimetercasual5086]

I'm just happy im witnessing Westbrooks greatness while he's still in the league .. Ion really care about all that other stuff just seeing him perform every night like that is special frfr

[@dgod4542]

Standards for greatness have declined drastically over the years

[@lotuslife3239]

@@dgod4542 he averages a triple double for a season and his team's have won over 75% of the games he got a TD in. If it were easy to get as many as he gets and and the high numbers that he does then everyone would do it. Allen Iverson said his favorite player in the NBA is Russell Westbrook and you're sitting at home hating on an incredible athlete

[@cesartrujillo8813]

“He played in the area of a mans game “ couldn’t say it better myself.... PERIOD

[@354allday]

Yes big men weren't out on the perimeter guarding a stretch 4 like today

[@Abdullahahmad2001]

@@354allday all that shows is more skilled players at all positions

[@pauloaustria7798]

Bro big man couldn’t shoot from the perimeter except for Dirk and Peja in Iverson time.

[@354allday]

@@pauloaustria7798 That's the point Iverson was dominating in the paint not like today every player is standing on the perimeter. Houston had to sacrifice their big man last yr just to make it easier for Westbrook to score in the paint

[@laxusdreyar7838]

Why even compare the two of them? Both of them has had legendary impact on the game, appreciate the fact that we had such great players grace the game and entertained us all.

[@joelillery2016]

Everyday Perkins makes me wonder how he even got in the show

[@taymorrevor695]

B 1 cth

[@MDA00xx]

Being a Malaysian, where basketball is not as huge as it is compared to the states and other countries, I grew up watching and loving the beautiful game of basketball because of AI. He was literally ICONIC, and so so criminally underrated. You can talk about how russ puts his heart out every day in the court and i respect that, but you’ve clearly never seen AI play, with the size and height that he has, he is one of the very few players who play their game as if it was their last. On top of that he was alone throughout his whole career literally carried the 76ers to the finals which btw was one of the worst teams ever assembled apart from AI. If it werent for kobe and shaq he would’ve retired with a chip and this conversation wouldn’t even exist in the first place. Respect the dude who transcended the Point Guard position, please.

[@whatshappening3327]

Dude, these modern nba players would literally cry for mama if they had iversons scrub squad from 2001 and for most of his entire career. And I’m from Philly. Eric snow, Aaron mckie, Theo Ratliff, and George lynch🤣 iverson playing with bunch of hustle players that can’t score.

[@luthfeeghazale6206]

I would not say the worst team ever assembled, Iverson had Mutombo the def player of the year on his team, and they both played HARD on the 2001 Finals, but then again, i agreed with you that Iverson > Westbrook, because the fact of the man's career influence in changing the point guard position (yes this is before curry) and if yes i seen him played with the Denver Nuggets and Grizzlies, and my man put 100% on all of his plays, and this is coming from another Malaysian who loves watching the NBA than our sports (no disrespect)

[@iceman6748]

Tatum dropped 60 in the third biggest comeback of all time and they won’t talk about it lmaoooo

[@yengvang8737]

I mean it was against the Spurs😏😏

[@weinaracewarandslaverystar3408]

Lol gotta suck to be a Celtics fan

[@dhartley98]

That’s why the lakers are forever better than the Celtics. Nobody care about y’all 😂😂😂

[@cablegamingg9122]

If it was the Lakers, and lebron posted a 60 point game against the Spurs it would’ve been all over the world lmaooo so disrespectful

[@QW22312]

@@cablegamingg9122 ESPN would have already given him the MVP award.

[@elizabethsteele4633]

Of course !

[@georgeianmacario3775]

THE ANSWER!👊😎💯

[@joestuehmer7967]

4 scoring titles, 1 Mvp, 2x All Star Mvp, 3x steals leader, Roty, averaged 30 ppg for his entire career in the playoffs which is second all time doing all of this at only 5'11 max. Some people don't realize how great of a player Ai was even Kobe said that he was the only player who kept him on his toes defensively

[@brentg6127]

2 scoring titles, 2 assists titles, 1 mvp, 2 time all star mvp, 3 seasons averaging a triple double, breaking big O's record, finals appearance at age 23, and still going. Some people don't realize how great of a player Westbrook IS.

[@michaelwest2405]

He was 6ft tall lol idk why people lie about a players height when tryna make an argument

[@joestuehmer7967]

@@brentg6127 Lets be real would Russ carry that 01 Philly Squad to the finals and get a win against Shaq/Kobe?? The second leading scoring on that Philly team Aaron Mckie only averaged 12 ppg that season. Ai basically carried a G league team by himself honestly I don't even think Kobe would've been able to carry that squad

[@brentg6127]

​@@joestuehmer7967 It is sad that you are using a single win in a series as some sort of highlight of AI's career lmao. Do I think Russ could carry a team to a single win over Shaq and Kobe? Absolutely, you act like we never got to see Kobe and Russ face off.

[@joestuehmer7967]

@@brentg6127 It wasn't a single win did you not watch the 01 playoffs? Ai played in like 2 back to back 7 game series against the bucks/raptors.. It wasn't a cakewalk to the finals if he didn't score 40+ the Sixers probably lost. I just can't picture Russ carrying a team that bad that deep in the playoffs

[@erod8386]

Can we talk about this when Russ’ career is over... he still has a good 3 more years left in him to at least do something or make an impact on another team

[@kasperrieberg3495]

Take a look at him right now ! Him and Beal (who is balling) aren’t even sure of making the playoff...... AI took Philly to the finals

[@mnb4414]

@@kasperrieberg3495 different competition. The east is stacked now.

[@abuhassan8849]

We always talks about LeBron's career 24/7. So of course we can talk about Russ' career.

[@kasperrieberg3495]

@baluga senpai The are both balling, but if Russ had AI’s leadership, this team would do alot better. That’s all

[@kasperrieberg3495]

@@mnb4414 I know ! But this team still under performs......

[@vladmakarov7971]

Allen Iverson will always be my GOAT

[@albizzy8859]

V bnnnhvvv

[@lebryantjordanson]

it’s a tuff comparison that i honestly don’t think should be made. Their play styles are nothing alike and the major is impacts that they’ve had on the game of basketball are nothing alike. Just let both go down as one of the greats.

[@Tranquillityist]

They needa stop putting Stephen A in these situations 😂

[@2real4tv5g1]

😭😭😭😭

[@callidawkins85]

Hahaha 🤣

[@mranderson8725]

Fact

[@livevideos2677]

😂😂

[@gangstagummybear3432]

For AI to do what he did for pretty much a decade as the defensive assignment bullseye, I would say that this man's career is to this day underrated; definitely from a pure stat perspective.

[@t-god2439]

I also think if he didn’t face the pistons later in with the squad they had they could of made the finals again

[@47hundo86]

Yes

[@marshae8089]

Media & casual fans have made it to if you don’t win a championship then you’re worthless. Not everyone is meant to win a championship if that’s the case then it wouldn’t be special. So I appreciate all the greats that might not ever win a title. Thank you for still being great. Championships are a TEAM accomplishment

[@danielkim672]

While that is true, Basketball is the one team sport where a star will have the biggest impact on the game. They are able to play 80-90% of the game, have an impact on both defense and offense, and are 20% of the team when they are on the court. In no other team sport is it even close.

[@ianmbanda3196]

why do people always have to compare different players from different eras? we dont know how Russ would have played in AI's era or how AI would have played in Russ's era...just appreciate both of them man

[@joestuehmer7967]

They always compare players with similar play styles but Ai was a much better shooter than Russ

[@jayy2245]

Facts

[@iansanders283]

@@joestuehmer7967 they don't even have similar playstyles

[@akeemwilliams4971]

@@teeblo great players would strive in any era

[@iansanders283]

@@teeblo i think Russ would be better in AI era since he would get pressured a lot less into shooting threes since they weren't as important at the time

[@stevehorn646]

I remember Iverson vs Vince Carter killer games

[@macjae9115]

A.I. was in the Kobe prime era!

[@bluesrockfan36]

Westbrook is in Lebron's super team era!

[@ericmartinez5631]

Kobe was still developing when A.I. was prime. Out the gate A.I. was the man of his team even with stack in the lineup.

[@DeadDogInc]

@@bluesrockfan36 Do you actually watch basketball? How many times Westbrook play "LeBron's super team" in the playoffs? Your statement has zero validity.

[@dycewhareaitu5208]

@@DeadDogInc are u dumb not just lebron but the warriors era too and they were 1 game from beating a 73-9 team 🥴

[@DeadDogInc]

@@dycewhareaitu5208 No. Im not dumb, but you are obviously a moron that can't follow a conversation, obviously. 🤫

[@tyler4733]

Russell Westbrook underrated on all time list

[@kasperrieberg3495]

He hasn’t been able to take a team on his shoulders !!

[@joahannatapia788]

@@kasperrieberg3495 thats bot what you suppose to do in basketball in basketball you need teamates westbrook aint no lebron bro not everyone is hes undderated no matter what anyone says

[@kasperrieberg3495]

@@joahannatapia788 But right now he has Beal, who leads the league in scoring, and the Wizards are still 10th seed !! That’s not good enough

[@coldlikupstate]

"i said what i said" lmao. A.I. my fav all-time, Kobe my 2nd!

[@heartlesforever1382]

Iverson was the best mid-range shooter I ever seen in my life at 6'1 we used to call him the 40-point King and he was lightning quick and also play defense and got steals he had the most heart and was relentless I Member One playoff game he told Kobe that he would smack the s*** out of him God bless Kobe soul him and Iverson wer really friends the Mike picked it up Iverson was very serious that's because he was Hood when he came out of Georgetown it was as big as LeBron coming out I remember that 96 draft class with Ray Allen Kobe Bryant it was a very good class that actually change the NBA some might call that the best draft class in NBA history and to think he was the first pick he was that special but Russell Westbrook we will probably never see another player like him In Our Lifetime he's special in his own way shout out to those two kings

[@jaydell4039]

Let me know when russell carries his team to the finals by himself and actually win a game against the lakers when they were sweeping everybody in the playoffs on the west coast

[@tyler4733]

He didn’t win

[@ChuckyBeingChucky]

@@tyler4733 read again. He won the only game that kept the Lakers from sweeping the playoffs

[@treytapez]

bro u do realize the east wasnt even nearly as good as it is today. no hate to AI but we cant undermine russ like that

[@malikwilson7387]

@@tyler4733 well of course he didnt win he had to face a dominant shaq and they had to Double team him had Allen Iverson had another star it might've ended differently anyone who thinks like you Kendrick is a casual

[@D.Money187]

He can’t even carry a team past the first round

[@junebugg1927]

AI all day, it's not even close. Russell Westbrook is a bad boy, but AI is literally that dude, hands down.

[@TerryTsmoov2212]

I’m going AI all day everyday, he did have Carmelo Anthony on Denver

[@KdDevil14]

I believe they also had Kenyon Martin? That team was probably the best squad AI ever played on

[@captinnapkin0211]

4:56 FINALLY THANK YOU STEPHEN A

[@adammcg7115]

If AI was 6"3 or 6"4 like Russ he would have been completely unstoppable..

[@rustywestbrook3186]

If MJ was 7 foot.....

[@freakhead10]

If Isaiah Thomas was 6'3...

[@adammcg7115]

@@rustywestbrook3186 All I'm saying is that its no secret that most of the players we consider among the very best ever are 6"6 and over.

[@ralx225b]

@@adammcg7115 Glad you noticed, unless you can shoot like Curry you are not finding a way into any top 10 list shorter than 6'5.

[@SteveBrooks757]

If “ifs” were a fifth...

[@matthewweiss8579]

He already has passed him in longevity and averaging a triple double for 4 seasons now. Both have no championships, and are solo acts!

[@MindfulAttraction]

But ai was able to get to the f finals and be shack one game. And his teams make it past the first round more often than West.

[@vinnybrown1122]

Russ has had way more talented teams and still really didn’t accomplish more

[@letstalk140]

Thats what im saying ai didnt have longevity

[@TheSwagIsBack]

Vinny Brown he did ..ai had went against weak east

[@onyekaobeki5839]

@@TheSwagIsBack arguably the weakest East of all time too

[@kynshii]

Steven A sounds like he's going on a DJ Akademiks rant at 5:20 lol

[@yournoasshole]

As much as i love AI hes my fav player they forgot about melo as his teammate

[@CloudyB_MT]

They were talking Finals wise on that topic. He honestly wasn't the same hooper after leaving Sixers. Lost of fire, drive, and motivation.

[@MichaelJohnson-ss7qf]

Man just imagine if those baby thunders would have stayed together longer. The skies the limit for what that team could have been

[@poulardu]

Bro i said the same thing!! if they stuck it out, figured each other out, and gave each other time to mature . They probably woulda got a chip by now. Instead of cleaveland winning that year. Okc woulda probably won.

[@UnexpectedWonder]

I said that Chef Harden Trade would easily be one of the Worst Trades ever and was proven right.

[@edmarjasonlorzano7007]

You are thinking of Durant being in the Goat Convo, Westbrook on Greatest PG convo and harden prolly cracking top 15 if they won like 4-5 rings

[@breezeboxing3249]

Traded Harden after making it to the finals just to have Harden play with KD and Jeff Green all over again...OKC Management really had something they just didn't believe it enough to back it up from their wallets

[@edmarjasonlorzano7007]

@@breezeboxing3249 Yeahh wasted a potential dynasty that would've run the west from 2013-present and would challenge GSW without a doubt.

[@Harveygregorxotwod]

Did y’all forget that Allen Iverson played with Prime Carmelo Anthony?

[@nightkilla1216]

U right

[@onidtubes]

And did you know he was already past his prime when he left Philly?

[@Harveygregorxotwod]

@@onidtubes nah you right but he was still putting up some pretty great numbers and he was given a prime superstar to play with. They should have worked it out

[@josephcampbell9146]

Steven As good at this I was with KP until SAS started talking lol

[@dontplayvon]

Longevity should matter in this argument..seems like everyone arguing who’s the better player rather than the better career

[@goten3965]

I’m just glad ESPN is giving Russ credit otherwise 90% of the comments would be saying he’s a bad teammate and sucks they said Beal is scoring leader all of a sudden everyone thinks Beal is leaps and bounds better than Westbrook when triple doubles are way harder than scoring 10 more points a game

[@Kitu74]

Some players go through a whole career and never get a triple double..Russell Westbrook will always be mentioned no matter what because of the triple double and let's not forget he did it for four seasons...Incredible

[@kasperrieberg3495]

But lets focus on this year ! Russ is avering a triple double, but his team is 10th seed, even though Beal is leading the league in scoring ! So quit a worthless stat

[@Maggpiee]

@Jarard X facts

[@bluesrockfan36]

@@kasperrieberg3495 Worthless? They're the reason they can make it into the playoffs to begin with. You obviously have no idea what the Wizards had to endure this season. By the way, Westbrook won 76% of the games he got a TD in. That means it's a better record than the current 1st seeds.

[@ex-creaturecoby4643]

@@kasperrieberg3495 do you just choose not to pay attention to what actually happened to the wizards or are you just ignorant? They’ve been one of the most injured teams in the league.

[@absolutejazz1676]

@@kasperrieberg3495 i can tell you're a casual