Russell Westbrook wrote his way into NBA history on Monday, notching his 182nd career triple-double to break Oscar Robertson’s 47-year-old record. Washington Wizards star Westbrook, who equaled Robertson’s record of 181 triples on Saturday, sealed his record-breaking triple with 8 minutes, 33 seconds left in Monday’s 125-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Westbrook had 28 points, 21 assists and 13 rebounds for his 36th triple-double of the season. He has already promised to average a triple-double per game this season.
A triple-double occurs when a player produces double-digit highs in three of a game’s five major statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Westbrook has averaged a triple-double per game in four of the past five seasons, an eye-popping statistic that ensures he’s quickly overtaken Robertson’s historic benchmark, which stood since 1974 and was once widely considered unbeatable.
“Normally I don’t like to pat myself on the back, but tonight I will,” Westbrook said afterward. “I’m very grateful for those who came before me.”
The 32-year-old Westbrook now has several seasons left in his career to add to his record, a total that is nowhere near that of his contemporaries.
Westbrook has nearly twice as many triple-doubles as his closest rival among current active players.
Behind Westbrook with 182, LeBron James is second with 99 triples, and James Harden is third with 58.
Westbrook and Robertson are followed by two other players with 100 or more triples on the all-time list, Earvin “Magic” Johnson third with 138 and Jason Kidd fourth with 107.
“It’s just a blessing…you’ve done so much in the game,” Westbrook said.
“Just to be mentioned with guys like Oscar, Magic, Jason Kidd, these guys. It’s something I never dreamed of.”
Wizards coach Scott Brooks described Westbrook’s accomplishments as “phenomenal.”
Brooks said it’s great for him. “You can’t take anything away from him.
“The guy’s a winner. He’s making the basketball and non-basketball world a better place. Not many guys get to do that, not many guys have the impact he has on and off the court.”
Johnson, meanwhile, paid tribute to Westbrook’s record-breaking career before Monday’s game, saying the Wizards ace doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.
‘give him his respect’
“When we show the highlights, how many points someone had, how far they can shoot up the court,” Johnson told The Athletic.
“Russell Westbrook is not one of those things. He gets all these triple-doubles, but you don’t see him in the highlights.
“What he’s been able to do, hopefully, is we’ll say, ‘Give him his love, give him his respect.’ This is really big. That’s something I couldn’t do either. I know how big it is.”
Westbrook’s critics have accused him of artificially inflating his personal statistics in order to shore up his triple-double tally, noting that a career that did not earn him an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets and the 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
However, Robertson himself is among those who have dismissed criticism of Westbrook’s failure to land a championship ring.
“I think he’s one of the elite guards in basketball, and I think it’s ridiculous that some sportswriters criticize him because he hasn’t won a championship,” Robertson told the New York Times.
“Players cannot win championships by themselves. You have to have good management. You have to go with the right group of players.”
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