Russell Westbrook Breaks The Triple-Double Record With His 42nd Of The Season
The 2016/17 MVP award just became even more likely for Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder point guard recorded his 42nd triple-double of the season during a 106-105 Oklahoma City victory over Denver Sunday night (April 9).
Westbrook also sunk a 40-foot buzzer-beater to win the game for his team as the playoffs loom. His triple-double breaks Oscar Robertson’s 55-year-old record of 41.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, part of RW’s statline included a 50-point performance, his eighth triple-double with at least 40 points. Overall, he finished with 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
At the halftime buzzer, Westbrook already had a double-double going 23, 12 and 6. His tenth assist (which would be the final, record-breaking play) came with 4:17 remaining in the 4th quarter, hitting Semaj Christon for a 3-pointer in the right corner.
"I'm honored just to be mentioned in a conversation with Oscar Robertson," Westbrook said recently while creeping up on the record. "The different things he did for the game of basketball to allow me to play the game today, I think that's more important. Obviously, triple-doubles are a great thing, but the way he played the game, the era when he played the game, to allow guys like me to be able basketball and be able to do things like this."
Russell Westbrook’s triple-double on Sunday was the 79th of his career, and moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for fourth all-time.
Check out some of the highlights, including the record-breaker below.