Russell Westbrook Becomes NBA Highest Scoring Point Guard

Merlin sees Russell Westbrook open the New Year by moving past Oscar Robertson into 15th on the NBA scoring list, reaching 26,711 career points and becoming the "highest-scoring point guard in NBA history," per NBC. He scored 17 points with nine rebounds and six assists in Friday's 129-120 loss to the Suns. Sacramento is 8-27 and Westbrook is on a one-year deal, so the Kings could become sellers at the trade deadline while he continues climbing the leaderboard. Merlin notes that Westbrook’s milestone is the product of durability and volume more than nightly efficiency. With just 236 points to overtake Hakeem Olajuwon for 14th, a steady role or a new home that gives him minutes makes that goal realistic. A deadline trade would change the story but not the chase.