There may be some criticisms of his recreation, however there may be one factor Russell Westbrook has carried out higher than anybody in NBA historical past.
The Denver Nuggets guard grew to become the primary participant to document 200 profession triple-doubles on Tuesday, posting 12 factors, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in a 122-110 NBA Cup play win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He obtained there simply in time, pulling in his tenth rebound with 1:17 left within the recreation.
Westbrook was already the NBA’s all-time chief in triple-doubles, . His frequency has fallen off since then, correlating together with his transition from ball-dominant level guard to bench participant. Tuesday was solely his second since getting traded from the Los Angeles Lakers within the 2022-23 season, and his first with the Nuggets.
Nonetheless, Westbrook now holds sole occupation in a formidable membership, although he may need firm in just a few years, or a number of.
The lively participant closest to Westbrook on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard is Nikola Jokić with 136. To succeed in 200 on his profession, Jokić solely has to repeat the manufacturing of his earlier three seasons, through which he recorded 73 throughout 222 video games.
That appears very doable, because the reigning MVP reveals no indicators of slowing down. He already has six triple-doubles this season and entered Tuesday main the NBA in each rebounds (13.7) and assists (11.7) per recreation. He sat out his third straight recreation Tuesday because of private causes, which doubtless had one thing to do with Westbrook’s historic night time.
Luka Dončić additionally seems to hitch Westbrook by the point his profession is over, with 77 triple-doubles to his title at solely 25 years outdated. Replicating his manufacturing over the subsequent 10 or so years can be robust for any participant, however the size of the runway is extra vital than something.
Regardless of the triple-double, probably the most notable second of Westbrook’s night time may need been his technical foul.
Late within the third quarter, Westbrook drove previous Grizzlies ahead Santi Aldama, stared him down for roughly a second and began working to the opposite finish of the court docket. He obtained T’d up for that, one way or the other.
You possibly can solely think about what the NBA would appear like if each participant have been held to that customary. Clearly, it did not journey Westbrook an excessive amount of.
