With nine minutes left in the third quarter on Wednesday, Russell Westbrook added yet another historic point in his resume by becoming the first player to average a triple-double in multiple seasons.
Westbrook said, “I’m very, very thankful and blessed to go out and compete. Like I’ve said many, many times, I don’t take this game for granted, I don’t take going on the floor competing for granted, and God got something planned for me, man, nobody can stop it, and I always continue to follow his faith and stay faithful and stay strong and continue to do what I’m doing.”
Westbrook joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in the final two games, with the task of getting 34 rebounds to round his average up to 10. On Monday, he hauled in 18 against the Miami Heat and made a career-high 20 against the Grizzlies on Wednesday as his team won with 137-123 and fished the season with 48-34, securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
The crowd stood up to give a standing ovation while Westbrook’s teammates also applauded after Westbrook grabbed the 16th board. At this moment, Westbrook looked up at the board and gave the nod to the crowd.
He finished the season with 10.1 rebounds, averages of 25.4 points and 10.3 assists. Westbrook became the first player last year, since Oscar Robertson, to average a triple-double. Robertson had averaged with 12.5 rebounds, 30.8 points and 11.4 assists in the year 1961-62, setting a mark which several people considered to be unreachable in today’s era.
On Wednesday, Westbrook said that a lot of focus on rebounding goes in snaring the ball and use his speed to start a new transition opportunity for his team instantly. With multiple rebounds in Wednesday’s game, Westbrook either kicked ahead for a dunk or found a teammate for an open 3.
