Russell Westbrook first player to average triple-double in consecutive seasons
Russell Westbrook was able to put himself in the history books yet again as he became the first player to average a triple-double in consecutive seasons.
No player has ever averaged a triple double for the season twice in their career. Oklahoma City Thunder‘s star point guard Russell Westbrook has become the first player to average a triple double in back to back seasons.
For the game Westbrook finished with six points, 20 rebounds and 19 assists. The Thunder were able to win the game 137-123.
This season Westbrook has done it all for the Thunder. He has been able to win games for them at the last second, he has been able to be the go to player and he has been able to play with two other superstars on the team.
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Before going into the game against the Memphis Grizzlies the talk was that Westbrook was known for stealing rebounds.
This came just before he needed 16 rebounds to clinch the triple-double average for the year.
Westbrook did not take this lightly as he went on a rant about his knack for finding rebounds. Here’s what he said via ESPN’s Royce Young:
"“I come out and play, and I get the ball faster than someone else gets to it. That’s what it is. If you don’t want it, I’m gonna get it. Simple as that.”"
After everything was said and done Westbrook was able to accomplish the triple-double average after getting 16 rebounds by the third quarter.
The Thunder added superstar pieces in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, so coming into this season it would be common sense to know that Westbrook’s production would drop.
This was not the case. Westbrook was able to do close to what he did last year and the Thunder are in the playoffs again.
Last year he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists. This year he is averaging 25.6 points, 10 rebounds and 10.1 assists.
Westbrook has the biggest contract in NBA history after he signed a $205 million extension before the season started.
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Jordan Brand gave Westbrook his own sneaker, the Why Not Zero.1 after he was able to win the MVP award.
Going into the season it was said that the sky was the limit for Westbrook because of his good health and above par talent. Now he has achieved what so many NBA players that came and went dreamed that they could do.
Oscar Robertson, in his second season in the NBA, was the only player to accomplish the triple double for the season average for 55 years until Westbrook did it during the 2016-17 season.
In my opinion Westbrook should be named with the greats and is a sure fire hall of fame player. After accomplishing what nobody has ever done in NBA history he has taken the game to another level and changed the game.
How are the players these days accomplishing this great feat?
The prototypical player who has the capability to pump in triple double after triple double has to be a tall point guard like player who is athletic.
Oscar Robertson was a 6-foot-5 point guard, Russell Westbrook is 6-foot-3 and can jump out the gym. That athleticism helps him secure rebounds, put up easy baskets at the rim and his assists come from his point guard capabilities.
James Harden at 6-foot-5 was able to get 22 triple-doubles last year when he played point guard.
Ben Simmons, at 6-foot-10, was able to rival Magic Johnson (another tall athletic point guard) in his rookie season as he passed Magic’s rookie season triple-double mark.
Simmons currently has 12. He finished second behind Oscar Robertson, who had 26 his first year.
LeBron James is the ultimate player that you talk about when it comes to being a all around threat. James passing ability combined with his size and high basketball IQ is a triple double waiting to happen.
The triple-double was once one of the hardest things to do. Now the list of most triple-doubles all-time has four active players in the top 11: Westbrook (104), James (73), Harden (35) and Rajon Rondo (31).
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Westbrook should be able to go in the Hall of Fame because he was the trendsetter of a new age of basketball where a triple double is now an art that is able to be mastered.