OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- NOVEMBER 28: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball against Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 28, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder: Could Russell Westbrook average a triple-double for the third straight year?
After a great game where Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, the Oklahoma City Thunder MVP is eyeing another triple-double season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had the honor of having a player average a triple-double in the 2016-17 season. Russell Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game that year, winning MVP honors in the process.
He was honored with a Maurice Podoloff trophy and was the only player in NBA history to achieve the triple-double feat other than Oscar Robertson. It was something that was never seen before in the modern NBA, and Westbrook achieved something that a lot of people thought would never be done again.
He followed it up with another triple-double season in 2017-18. This was after the OKC Thunder formed a Big 3 with him, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. The added superstar power did not stop Westbrook from doing something that had never been done before.
Not only did he become the first player to have two triple-double averaging seasons, but he did it back-to-back. Players with great stats like Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and LeBron James were not able to do it once, but Westbrook has done it twice, consecutively.
Last year Russ averaged 25.4 points, 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game. It wasn’t as hyped up as it was during the first season because the Thunder weren’t a significantly better team, but he was still able to accomplish a monumental feat by season’s end.
OKC had struggled all year, but was still able to get the 4-seed in the Western Conference. Westbrook again flexed his muscles by showing enough concentration to get the team where it needed to be while still putting up gaudy numbers in the process.
This year, the team is doing well after having a 0-4 start to begin the new campaign. Westbrook looks like he can average another triple-double to make it three years in a row.
Russ is currently averaging 23.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game this season. He is only 0.2 assists away from averaging another triple-double in this early going, and has proven in the past that he’s able to manage his stats over the course of the season to maintain that average.
In OKC’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, Westbrook scored 23 points, pulled down 19 rebounds and racked up 15 assists for his third triple-double of the season. He is now tied with Jason Kidd for the third-most most triple-doubles in NBA history with 107.
If he does it again this season, it will come again after adversity at the beginning of the year. Westbrook missed the first two games due to having a knee procedure during the offseason.
Then he sprained his ankle, which caused him to miss six games. Even though he’s had lower body issues to start the season, Westbrook’s stats remain consistent with the triple-double averages from the past two years.
He has gotten along fine without shooting great from 3-point range. He is only shooting 19.6 percent from 3 this season, which is the worst percentage for his career. His skill-set does not require him to be a great shooter from 3 to still be effective, however.
The triple-double record was thought of as one of the most unbreakable records in NBA history but Russell Westbrook looks ready to break it for the third consecutive year.
