Russell Westbrook continues to make history.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star registered his 41th triple-double this season against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. He finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter in OKC’s 110-79 win over the Bucks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyU8CJPrDQc&w=854&h=480
No one likes comparisons, but in this case they are absolutely necessary. Let’s take a look at Robertson’s and Westbrook’s numbers:
“Big O” had 41 triple-doubles in 79 games and averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. Meanwhile, Westbrook only needed 77 games to reach that mark, and he currently averages 31.6 pts, 10.4 assts and 10.7 rebs. So Westbrook is scoring more and needed two less games, but Robertson was more productive all around.
However, Westbook set some interesting marks in the process. First, this season he topped his career total – he had 37 triple-doubles between 2008 and 2015. However, those numbers need to be put into context. This is the first season he’s been the Alpha Dog on the team. And it’s noticeable that OKC’s offense lives and dies with him.
He also has the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history. It came against the Orlando Magic on March 29, when he finished with a line of 57 points, 13 points and 11 assists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paJ85RCJDh4&w=854&h=480
He has scored at least 40 points in a triple-double seven times, and even reached the 50-point plateau twice.
Westbrook also registered a 100% shooting percentage in another triple-double performance. This time it was against the Philadelphia Sixers when he finished with 18 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds going 6-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myCH0ShtmwM&w=854&h=480
He’s also had two seven-game streaks with a triple-double, two shy of the NBA record which belongs to Wilt Chamberlain. The all-time great set that mark with nine straight games conquering a triple-double back in the 1968 season.
Something even more impressive is that Westbrook recorded a triple-double against 27 of 29 possible opponents. The only two teams that didn’t allow him this feat were the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Westbrook now has 78 triple-doubles in his NBA career, tying Chamberlain for fourth all-time. Only Robertson, Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd have more, although it wouldn’t be a reach to see Westbrook moving towards the top of the list in the coming. The Thunder star is only 28, so he still has at least four or five years on his prime. And we know NBA players can be productive deep into their 30s.
It’s worth noting amidst the current debate surrounding Westbrook’s MVP candidacy, Robertson did not win the award in 1962. However, the triple-double did not become an officially recorded NBA statistic until the 1979-80 season. Considering the stat-driven era we are living in, it wouldn’t be surprising if this record is enough to give Westbrook the first MVP Award in his career.