For nearly five decades, Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson has been the National Basketball Association’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles with 181. He was the only player to average a triple-double for a single-season in NBA history in the 1961-62 campaign. It was thought that now one would ever surpass him on the NBA’s all-time triple-double list as well as average a triple-double for entire season. Well, a former UCLA Bruin has done just that multiple times over the past half decade, and at the start of this week surpassed Mr. Robertson for the most career triple-doubles in NBA history.
On Saturday night, Washington Wizards’ perennial
All-Star guard Russell Westbrook tied Mr. Robertson on the NBA’s career
triple-double list at 181 with 33 points, 15 assists and 19 rebounds on 11 for
26 from the field in the Wizards 133-132 overtime win at the Indiana Pacers
(33-36).
On Monday, Westbrook surpassed Robertson
on the career triple-double list when he grabbed his 10th rebound at
the 8:32 mark of the fourth quarter, registering 182nd career
triple-double in the Wizards 125-124 loss at the Atlanta Hawks (38-31).
Westbrook finished with 28 points, 21 assists, and 13 rebounds, registering 11
points, 10 assists, and six boards in the fourth quarter.
Westbrook had a chance to cap the magical
night by leading the Wizards to victory but missed the potential game-winning
three-pointer at the final buzzer right in front of the Hawks bench.
“Oh my God, I don’t like to pat myself on
the back but tonight I will just because, you know, I’m so grateful for the
ones before me and so blessed and thank for the man above me to go out and do
what I do,” Westbrook, who had 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds through
three quarters against the Hawks said postgame about becoming the NBA’s new all-time
triple-double leader. “I humbly say this, but like I said last week I’m the
best playmaker in this league. No doubt in my mind, and I do that every night.”
“I know it seems normal at least from my
point of view, but its not, man. I take a lot of pride in finding ways to make
my teammates effective. Make the game easier for them and I just go out and
play. And every night I try to do things that people say can’t be done or can’t
do it. My motto is why not.”
“I’ve been blessed with the ability to
play this game at a level that nobody else can play at, and I won’t stop until,
you know, I can’t play no more.”
That high level of play that Westbrook speaks to is how he has registered 57 double-doubles on the season, including a career-high 33 straight double-doubles. Out of those 57 double-doubles by Westbrook, he has compiled a league-leading 36 triple-doubles, which also is the most by a player in Washington Wizards/Bullets history, surpassing the 15 by former Wizard/Bullets player Darrell Walker, who was the all-time triple-double leader for 30 years. Westbrook needed just three months and 245 fewer games to become the Wizards all-time triple-double leader passing Walker, who played for the then Bullets from 1988-91.
Those 36 triple-doubles are the third most
registered for a single season in NBA history, surpassing the 34 he had in
2018-19, his final season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who drafted him No. 4
overall in 2008 out of UCLA when they were the Seattle Supersonics. He set the
single-season triple-double record with a total of 42 back in his Kia MVP
season of 2016-17 with the Thunder, surpassing the original record holder in
Robertson, who had 41 in 1961-62.
To bring into clearer focus what Russell Westbrook
has done to reach this milestone in recent weeks, he has registered a
triple-double in 22 of the Wizards last 26 games, including the last six
consecutive games. He has registered a double-double or a triple-double in 43
of the team’s last 46 games.
On the night that Westbrook surpassed Mr.
Robertson on the all-time triple-double list, he authored his six career 20
assists triple-double, extending his own NBA record. Became the sixth player in
league history with five straight games with 15 assists. Had his third triple-double
on the season scoring 10 points in the first quarter. Joined Hall of Famer Gary
Payton and Los Angeles Lakers four-time NBA champion and four-time Kia MVP
LeBron James as the only three players in NBA history with 20,000 career points
and 8,000 career assists.
Westbrook so far this season not only
leads the NBA in triple-doubles but also leads “The Association” in 10-plus
assists games with 48 and in point-assists double-doubles with 36.
“I’m super grateful, especially for Oscar
because he paved the way for guys like myself,” Westbrook said of the Hall of
Famer. “He endured different things back in the time where he were playing
where he was able to do that and still be effective.”
“To be in the same conversation with
Oscar, for one, I just want to thank because him because he set the stage. He sacrificed
a lot of things for us to be able to go out and play in, and the things he was
able to do. The things I want to do today. Just grateful for him and grateful
for his words, and so appreciative of his support as well.”
Before Robertson and after, no other NBA
player has averaged a triple-double for a single-season. Recently Westbrook
guaranteed that he would average a triple-double for the fourth time in his
career and doing so for the fourth time in the last five seasons. He is also
the only player in the NBA history to have 25-plus triple-doubles in four
different seasons (42 in 2016-17 w/Thunder; 36 and counting in 2020-21 w/Wizards;
34 in 2018-19 w/Thunder, and 25 in 2017-18 w/Thunder).
Also, Westbrook is the only player in NBA
history to register at least two triple-doubles against all 30 NBA squads, registering
10 career triple-doubles against the Indiana Pacers. The 10th came
in the Wizards back on May 3 as he registered 14 points, a new career-high 24 assists
and a career-high tying 21 rebounds. This night is also where Westbrook
clinched averaging a triple-double for the fourth time in his career and
registered his 2nd 20-assist/20-rebound game of this season.
Westbrook along with James are the only
two players in NBA history to record a triple-double against all 30 NBA
franchises.
Also on this night, Westbrook registered a triple-double in three quarters, the 54th time he has done that in his career, the most over the last 25 years. He leads a list that includes the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic with 14; Brooklyn Nets' James Harden with 13, Lakers' LeBron James with 12, and Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic with 8.
“There’s nobody in the history of the game
that can do what he does throughout the stat sheet,” Wizards head coach Scott
Brooks, who also coached Westbrook for eight seasons with the Thunder said postgame
after the win versus the Pacers. “I used to always say he going to probably go
down as the third best point guard ever. But I think he’s past one, and he’s
going to go down as probably the second best and one is obviously ‘Magic.’ What
he does, there’s no point guard that’s ever done it. Nobody.”
Simply put, Westbrook has been not just
one of the best all-around players but one of the best players in NBA history.
Every night he has taken the floor in his
career with the Thunder for 11 seasons, the Houston Rockets last season, and
the Wizards so far this season he has left his heart and soul and then some on
the court. No matter who is on the court with him, he does whatever it takes to
win and has been an example of motivation, inspiration, and determination for
his teammates. He has brought the best out of his opponents while earning their
respect for the effort and effectiveness he plays with on a night-in and night
out basis.
“To be really good at one aspect of the NBA
is hard,” NBATV analyst and former NBA player Channing Frye said on May 12th
edition of NBATV’s “Gametime.” “To be a good shooter is hard. To score is hard.
To pass, to get double-doubles in passing is hard. To do all that on a nightly
basis, and to do all that at such a level that is the greatest of all-time is ridiculous.”
“The energy. The passion. I mean, the way
you want to win, and he’s [Westbrook] effecting winning. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
In registering his aforementioned 181st
career triple-double at the Pacers on Saturday night, tying Robertson for the
most in NBA history, Westbrook put the Wizards on top in the extra period with
two free throws and then blocked Caris LeVert’s potential game-winning
three-pointer with 01.0 second left in overtime.
“I take a lot of pride in doing anything
to impact winning as much as I can, leaving it on the floor, and tonight was another
one of those nights where you got to grind it out and figure it out,” Westbrook
said to NBC Sports Washington’s Justin Kutcher and Drew Gooden after the win.
On a night where Westbrook passed Robertson on the all-time triple-double list, he did not have fellow All-Star Bradley Beal on the floor as he was sidelined with a strained hamstring and injured ankle.
Outside of veterans Robin Lopez and Ish Smith,
who had 18 and 16 points respectably at the Hawks on Monday night and Alex Len,
the rest of the Wizards roster is of players in their infancy of their NBA
careers in Rui Hachimura, who had 20 points at the Hawks; Raul Neto, who had 12
points; Garrison Mathews; Davis Bertans, who had 15 points on 5 for 9 from
three-point range at the Hawks; Daniel Gafford, and Chandler Hutchison.
That supporting cast making shots off
Westbrook’s passes, especially in the fourth quarter where they outscored the
Hawks 45-29 in the period overcoming a 19-point deficit and how Westbrook broke
an NBA record had stood since March 1974.
This record was also achieved thanks to the
teammates Westbrook has had over the years from playing alongside fellow
superstars and former Kia MVPs in Kevin Durant and James Harden, now with the Nets,
with the Thunder; Harden with the Rockets and now Beal with the Wizards and
role players like Steven Adams, now with the Pelicans; the likes of P.J.
Tucker, Clint Capela, Ben McLemore, Jeff Green with the Rockets, and his
aforementioned teammates now with the Wizards.
“I have unbelievable teammates over the
years and even now, organizations and I’m just thankful for everybody along the
way, along this journey.”
Even with this amazing accomplishment,
Westbrook has had his detractors over the years because many have felt that he
has been stat hunting over the years and having much concern about winning a
title like the two Hall of Famers Coach Brooks said that he is in the
conversation with as the top lead guards in NBA history in five-time NBA
champion in the 1980s with the Los Angeles Lakers in Earvin “Magic” Johnson and
Robertson.
It is because of the effort and energy
Russell Westbrook has played with each game he has taken the floor that the
Thunder the year Durant left in free agency the summer of 2016 that the Thunder
made the playoffs but lost in the opening-round to the Rockets and Harden in
five games.
The Thunder added through trade Carmelo
Anthony and Paul George in the summer of 2017. They lost in the opening-round
that postseason to the Utah Jazz in six games. The next year, the Thunder were knocked
out in five games by the Portland Trail Blazers.
In the summer of 2019, Westbrook was dealt
to the Rockets being reunited with Harden. The Rockets dreams of winning a
title were dashed as the Rockets lost in Western Conference Semifinals in five
games to the eventual NBA champion Lakers.
In December 2020, Westbrook was dealt to
the Wizards teaming up with Beal in hopes of getting the Wizards back to the
playoffs after a three-year absence.
Things did not get off to a good start as in Westbrooks first 10 games, the Wizards went 1-9 and were 4-3 without him in the lineup. Since then, the Wizards with Westbrook in the lineup have gone 28-24 and are 29-33 overall on the season with Westbrook in the lineup.
Along with tying Robertson for the most
career triple-doubles in NBA history, Beal scored 50 points on 19 for 31 from
the field, including 3 for 7 from three-point range and 9 for 11 from the foul
line. Beal registered his fifth career 50-point game, the most in franchise
history.
Beal’s score off on a floater off a pass
from Westbrook with 1:39 left in third quarter gave him the triple-double that
tied him with Robertson for the most all-time.
“We were a part of Russ’s historical night
tonight. I think that kind of takes the cake on everything, you know, the
evolution of the game to where we are now,” Beal said after the win at the
Pacers. “Russ is one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball, and to
do that on a nightly basis is very tough to do.”
“I think people kind of pound, side-eye
him like its padding stats or whatever the case may be. You try going out there
and doing it every single night it’s very tough to do.”
“It’s tough to get yourself mentally ready.
So, for you to do that every single game and what this, his fourth time doing
it, I mean that speaks volumes.”
To further illustrate Beal’s point,
Russell Westbrook has registered 26 triple-doubles post All-Star break, the most
post All-Star break in NBA history, and one more than the late Hall of Famer
Wilt Chamberlin posted out of his 31 in the 1967-68 season. Westbrook became
the second player in NBA history to have a stat line of at least 33 points, 15
rebounds, and 19 assists, joining Chamberlin, who had 35 points, 24 rebounds,
and 15 assists in a game in February 1968, according to the Elias Sports
Bureau.
In that win at the Pacers, Beal and
Westbrook became just the third pair of teammates in NBA history where one
posted 50 points and the other registered a 30-point triple-double in the same
game. They joined Hall of Fame duos of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, who did it
for the Lakers on Dec. 8, 1961 and Larry Bird and Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics
on Mar. 3, 1985.
The greatest measure of how a player is can they win. While he has not won a title in his career, in all but two of his first 12 seasons of Westbrook’s time in the NBA has he not played in the playoffs, both of those were with the Thunder. Of the 182 times he has registered a triple-double in his career with the Thunder, Rockets, and Wizards, Westbrook’s teams have compiled a 136-46 record, including a 21-15 mark this season, going 21-10 after an 0-5 start to this season. Westbrook has registered a triple-double in 17.6 percent of the games he has played in his career.
"I honestly believe there's no player like myself and if people want to take it for granted, sorry for them," Westbrook to ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth before the Wizards 116-107 win versus the Los Angeles Lakers (36-26) on Apr. 28 his ability to produce triple-doubles on a nightly basis. "But I'm pretty sure if everybody could do it, they'll do it. And I honestly make sure I impact the game in many ways every night defending, rebounding, passing, assisting, whatever it is my team needs for me to be able to win, and that's what I do."
"I really don't care what nobody thinks about it. I don't care if somebody thinks, you know, whatever they want to call it, stat padding or not useful now that I'm doing it. It wasn't useful when 'Magic' [Johnson] and Oscar those guys were doing it."
Westbrook’s performance this season is a major reason why the Wizards are in position to appear in the NBA’s inaugural Play-In Tournament next week and have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since the spring of 2017.
Two people in the Wizards organization
that are incredibly happy for what Westbrook has done along with Coach Brooks
are Chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment Ted Leonsis and Wizards
General Manager Tommy Sheppard, who made the deal to acquire Westbrook in early
December 2020 in exchange for perennial All-Star lead guard John Wall and a
2023 Lottery protected First-Round pick.
“We’re so thrilled and honored that you are
playing for the Washington Wizards and that you are able break that record and
go into the history books in front of our fans,” Leonsis said.
GM Sheppard said that Westbrook should go
by from this point forward “Russell record book.”
“Congratulations. What a fantastic feat,” Sheppard
added.
It is that kind of production and
consistency that earned Westbrook’s a lot of props from his peers, family, and many
NBA greats especially those on the triple-double list expressed their gratitude
and respect when became the all-time triple-double leader.
Hall of Famer Allen Iverson said on
Twitter @alleniverson, “Just watched history being made!! Congratulations @russwest44
on breaking a record NO ONE thought would be broken. Well deserved, keep it up
killa!”
On the Wizards Twitter page, Westbrook got
plenty of congrats starting with the “Big O” himself, who said, “I’m very happy
for you. Your family’s very proud of you. And I salute you for all of your
accomplishments in the game of basketball.”
“Magic” Johnson, No. 3 on the all-time
triple-double list at 138 for his career said, “Congratulations on passing
Oscar Robertson and becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles.”
“What a feet! Incredible! You left me a
long time ago. But you’re going to go down as Mr. Triple-Double,” were the
words of now Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd, whose 107-career triple-doubles
are No. 4 on the all-time list.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said what
Westbrook accomplished spoke to his “relentless work ethic” and his “all-around
skill and passion” that he brought to the game each game.
NBATV analyst and Hall of Famer of 29
career triple-doubles Grant Hill said that he is “a big fan” of Westbrook. “Congrats
for what you’ve done. Mr. Triple-Double himself,” Hill added.
“Love you man. It’s an incredible feat. If
someone had to do it, why not you. Impressive bro. Impressive,” James, who is
one triple-double away from becoming the fourth player in NBA history with 100
career triple-doubles said.
Perhaps the greatest thanks for what Westbrook
did came from the one that have been there from the first day he stepped on
this Earth, his family.
His brother Ray, who said he was proud of
him for becoming the NBA’s all-time triple-double leader.
Westbrook’s father Russell, Jr. in typical
father fashion on said, “the world got more to see,” and added, “Me and your
mom, your brother, wife and kids all love you. We all appreciate you.”
Westbrook’s mother Shannon said of what
her son did, “Wow, you made history. That’s amazing. Love you. Keep up the good
work.
Westbrook’s wife Nina and their three kids
in daughters Jordyn and Skye, and son Noah also showed their appreciation with
Nina saying, “We just love you and appreciate you. Were so happy for you.”
For 47 years and little over a month one of
the NBA’s exceptional records stood by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson for the
most triple-doubles in NBA history at 181. It took a special player with an ability
to score, rebound, and pass on the hardwood with a passion, determination, and
relentlessness to be great night-in and night out. That player with that special
skill set, determination, and sheer will that he used to surpass Oscar
Robertson on the NBA’s all-time triple-double list to be No. 1 was Russell
Westbrook, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
“When I look at Russell Westbrook, I just
look at a competitor, and he’s always been that. And he’s been a guy that just
continues to get better and better. And on a nightly basis, no matter what his
team needs, he can do it,” NBATV analyst Brendan Haywood said. “I like what Russell
Westbrook has been doing. The fact that he got this record is huge, and you can’t
tell the story of basketball without talking about Russell Westbrook.”
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