Gary Payton II vs Russell Westbrook college stats and comparison

[IDreamCeltics]

Comparison:  Gary Payton II and Russell Westbrook

College Career:

Westbrook played two years at UCLA in the PAC-10
Payton II played two years at Oregon St. in the PAC-12 (Pac-10 plus Utah and Colorado)

Pre-Draft Measurables via DraftExpress

                  Ht W/Shoes  WngSpan  Weight  Standing Reach Standing Vert. Max Vert Body Fat
Westbrook        6'3.5"       6'7.75"      192          8'4"                 30.0            36.5       4.8 
Payton II           6'3             6'8"        184         8'3.5"               31.5             38         4.0

Accolades:

Westbrook

    2007 All Pac-10 Third Team
    2007 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year

Payton II

    2× First-team All-Pac-12 (2015, 2016)
    2x Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
    2× Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (2015, 2016)
    Bob Cousy Award Finalist (2016)
    2015 Pac-12 leader in steals per game (3.1 spg)
    2015 Pac-12 leader in total steals (95 steals)
    2016 Pac-12 leader in steals per game (2.5 spg)
    2016 Pac-12 leader in total steals (80 steals)


College stats:

            G    MP   FG% 2P% 3P% FTA FT% TRB  AST  STL  BLK  TO   PTS
Westbrook
Year 1   36/ 9.0 /.457/.470/.409/ 0.9/.548/ 0.8/ 0.7  /0.4/ 0.0 / xx  /3.4
Year 2   39/33.8/.465/.497/.338/ 3.8/.713/ 3.9/ 4.3 /1.6/  0.2/ 2.5 /12.7
   
            G    MP   FG% 2P% 3P% FTA FT% TRB  AST  STL  BLK  TO   PTS
Payton
Year 1   31/36.3/.485/.558/.293/ 3.2/.663/ 7.5/  3.2  /3.1/ 1.2 /1.9 /13.4
Year 2   32/34.3/.486/.520/.314/ 3.8/.642/ 7.8/  5.0 /2.5/  0.5/ 2.3 /16.0
 
*one note regarding volume:
Westbrook shot 99 3 pointers in college. He averaged .351% for his college career from 3
Payton shot 162 3 pointers in college.  He averaged .301% for his college career from 3.

Westbrook's Stats for his first two NBA seasons via Basketballreference.com

             G    MP   FG% 2P% 3P% FTA FT% TRB  AST  STL  BLK  TO   PTS
 
Year 1   82/32.5/.398/.415/.271/ 5.2/.815/ 4.9/  5.3  /1.3/ 0.2 / 3.3 /15.3
Year 2   82/34.3/.418/.438/.221/ 5.1/.780/ 4.9/  8.0  /1.3/ 0.4/  3.3 /16.1

*One note on progression:
Westbrook became an All-Star in his third NBA season.   

I think everyone is sleeping on Gary Payton II because he'll be 23 starting his rookie year.  Following the same trajectory as Westbrook this would make him 25 entering his first all-star season.

[Ilikesports17]

I love Payton II but I don't love this comp. being 23 vs 19 is a big difference, and Westbrook is a really gifted offensive player.

That being said, I definitely agree with you that Payton II will be a steal.

[chilidawg]

Peyton was 2 years older in his two seasons.

[IDreamCeltics]

I guess we'll see how relevant age is since we're talking about the same body type and same athleticism coming out of the same conference.

[Ilikesports17]

I guess we'll see how relevant age is since we're talking about the same body type and same athleticism coming out of the same conference.

yup. I think itll cause him to drop further than he should and you will see him become a big steal in the early second round. If we trade Smart or Rozier Id love to see us draft him, and even with the log jam Id like to get him anyway.

Regardless, the big concern for me, when compounded with age is that he didnt improve a ton from year to year. He got a few more assists, but looking at his stats it looks like he just took on a larger role.

When you see that lack of an upward trajectory and then turn and see hes already 22. It is a valid concern.

[Moranis]

Westbrook's freshman year UCLA played in the Final Four and was led by Darren Collison, Aaron Afflalo, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Westbrook's sophomore year UCLA again played in the Final Four and while it lost Afflalo, it added Kevin Love. 

Oregon State was 17-14 and 19-13 Payton's two years though did make the 1st round this past season.  I think it is safe to say Payton is the only guy that has any hope of playing in the NBA from either of those two teams.

[loco_91]

I don't like comparing guys to Russell Westbrook, who is approximately the most athletic person of all time. Payton II is an impressive athlete in his own right, but he isn't going to physically dominate the NBA the way RWB does. And obviously, there's the massive age gap which has been mentioned.

[IDreamCeltics]

I don't like comparing guys to Russell Westbrook, who is approximately the most athletic person of all time. Payton II is an impressive athlete in his own right, but he isn't going to physically dominate the NBA the way RWB does. And obviously, there's the massive age gap which has been mentioned.

This is why I posted the pre-draft measurements that were available for both to show that NO Westbrook is not more athletic than Payton II.  They're physically as identical as two players can be.

If you're interested please watch these:

Beating Oregon down the floor and finishing in transition
https://youtu.be/fVYPJlnnoJw

Halfcourt offense, screen into drive and dunk over two players on Kansas
https://youtu.be/72m7YlZJ1PM

Second dunk on this clip, secures rebound, one dribble, two steps dunks in traffic
https://youtu.be/tBeqKSxHxjU

There's a lot of misconceptions about Gary Payton the II out there and people are sort of refusing to actually look into him, mostly I think because as you cite "he's older." But in my mind, if you can get Russell Westbrook 2.0 (or even 70% of that) at any age you'd do it.  If for no other reason than to have an athletic defensive guard who can physically match up with the other uber-athletes of the NBA for a few minutes a game. 

He got Oregon State into the NCAA tournament after a 26 year absence.  He lead the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.  He also set the single game school record for blocked shots (7). He essentially was the whole team.  He'll be the same age Draymond Green was as a Rookie - and just like Draymond he's projected to slide into the second round... I get that a 23 year old Rookie may not have as much "potential upside" as a 19 year old, but three NBA seasons from now when he's 26 is and a walking triple double is anyone going to care how old he was as a rookie? 

Finally please ask yourself how's a guy who has the same height, size, wingspan, and athleticism as Russell Westbrook, who was a four category monster, and the leader of his college team, who's seen the NBA lifestyle up close before college NOT going to find some level of success in the NBA?