The triple-double has not always been a part of the NBA’s vernacular. Since it has, there has clearly been a face to the word. That face would have to be Russell Westbrook, the all-time leader in triple-doubles. The recently turned 36-year-old is now in his 17th NBA season, his first with the Denver Nuggets, and clearly has slowed down a bit from his prime. That doesn’t mean Westbrook has nothing left in the tank though, and he provides performances at times that remind fans of his heyday.
On Tuesday, he helped the Nuggets prevail with a 122-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Westbrook created a new club in the win, one in which he is currently the only member.
Russell Westbrook Creates New NBA Club In Tuesday’s Win
Westbrook Records 200th Career Triple-Double
In the MLB, Ronald Acuna Jr. created the 40/70 club when he finished the 2023 season with 41 home runs and 73 stolen bases. Last season, Shohei Ohtani created the 50/50 club as he slugged 54 homers and stole 59 bases.
Now in the NBA, Westbrook has created the 200 club. As in, 200 career triple-doubles for the 6-foot-4 point guard. Those 200 have come in the regular season, as he also has 12 in the postseason. Playing 32 minutes off the bench on Tuesday, Westbrook had an outing of 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. It was his first triple-double as a member of the Nuggets in his 13th game with the team.
Westbrook now has a triple-double in 16 different seasons. The only year he didn’t record one came in 2011-12, his fourth season in the league. The frequency of those triple-digit games in points, rebounds, and assists has lessened, but sometimes Westbrook still showcases the abilities that have made him an all-time great.
Previous to joining the Nuggets, Westbrook played 89 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. On April 9, 2024, the nine-time All-Star had an outing of 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists. It was Westbrook’s only triple-double with the Clippers, and his first since January 15, 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Triple-Double King
In 1961-62, Oscar Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists on the season. The Basketball Hall of Famer became the first player to ever average a triple-double in a season. Robertson remained the only one to do so for 4.5 decades. That was until the 2016-17 season when Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists while with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook was named the league’s MVP after becoming just the second to average a triple-double for a season.
In 2017-18, Westbrook averaged 25.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. The following season, Westbrook posted averages of 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. With the Washington Wizards in 2020-21, Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the fourth time as he averaged 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 11.7 assists.
It has been around 3.5 years since Westbrook surpassed Robertson as the all-time leader in regular season triple-doubles. On May 10, 2021, Westbrook’s 182nd career-triple double overtook Robertson’s career triple- double total of 181.
Westbrook is now teammates with three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic. Not turning 30 years old until February 19, Jokic has 136 career triple-doubles, the fourth-most in league history. Will he join Westbrook in the 200 club at some point?
