Russell Westbrook triple-double watch: 25 games remaining
By Luke Norris
An update on what Russell Westbrook needs to do to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire NBA season.
Following the loss of Kevin Durant, who left last summer via free agency for the Golden State Warriors, there was no denying that Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook would need to step it up a notch in order for his team to remain any sort of threat in a very competitive Western Conference. Westbrook had always put up great numbers and we knew they’d go up a bit with Durant gone but I’m not sure anybody expected this.
At the All-Star break, Russell Westbrook is averaging a triple-double and is looking to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to accomplish this feat over the course of an entire NBA season. “The Big O” did so during the 1961-62 season, averaging 30.8 points, 11.4 assists and 12.5 rebounds per game, putting up a total of 41 triple-doubles. And much like what may end up happening to Russell Westbrook, Robertson did not win the MVP that year. In fact, he didn’t even come in second. Bill Russell ended up winning the award that year (18.9 points, 23.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists) and Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged more than 50 points and 25 rebounds, was the runner-up. That’s three of the greatest individual seasons in the history of basketball.
While Westbrook is enjoying one of the most successful individual campaigns in NBA history, the fact that the Thunder aren’t considered one of the elite teams in the NBA may make things harder for him to win his first MVP. LeBron James and Kevin Durant are always going to be in the conversation and James Harden is having an incredible season of his own and has the Houston Rockets in position for a deep run in the playoffs. But Russell Westbrook continues to impress and regardless of whether or not he wins the MVP, he’s on track for history.
So let’s break down the triple-double stats for Westbrook and see exactly what he needs to do over the next 25 games to become just the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season.
What are Russell Westbrook’s current averages? Through 57 games, he’s averaging 31.1 points per game, 10.1 assists per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.
What would Russell Westbrook have to average the rest of the season to make it with a triple-double? Thus far, Westbrook has played in all 57 games the Thunder have played this season so we’re going to go ahead and assume that he’s going to play in all 82 games, meaning he would need a total of 820 points, 820 assists and 820 rebounds to average a triple-double.
We already know that the points are not an issue. He took care of that back on December 17 by scoring 26 in a win against the Phoenix Suns, which put him at 820 exactly.
Through 57 games, he has a total of 577 assists, meaning he needs 243 assists over the next 25 games, which comes to an average of 9.72 assists per game.
Through 57 games, he has a total of 598 rebounds, meaning he needs 222 rebounds over the next 25 games, which comes to an average of 8.88 rebounds per game.
What was Russell Westbrook’s fastest triple-double of the season? Westbrook’s fastest triple-double this season came back on New Year’s Eve in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He had his 16th triple-double of the season in about 19 minutes, just two minutes shy of the NBA record set by Jim Tucker in 1955, with 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds before halftime. Westbrook didn’t play much of the second half in the 114-88 blowout victory and ended the night with 17 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds.
What was Russell Westbrook’s best triple-double of the season? According to Game Score, a formula used at Basketball Reference to measure a player’s single game productivity, Russell Westbrook’s best triple-double of the season came on Nov. 13 in a two-point home loss to the Orlando Magic. Westbrook shot 14-for-18 from the floor that night and ended up with 41 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds.
How many triple-doubles does Russell Westbrook have this season? Through 57 games, Westbrook has 27 triple-doubles, good for third on the all-time single season list. As noted earlier, Oscar Robertson had 41 in the 1961-62 season and Wilt Chamberlain had 31 in the 1973-74 campaign.
Where is Russell Westbrook on the career triple-double list? Westbrook currently sits in fifth place on the all-time career triple-double list with 64 and has passed Larry Bird and LeBron James with his output this season. The four players ahead of him are Wilt Chamberlain (78), Jason Kidd (107), Magic Johnson (138) and of course, Oscar Robertson (181).
Who does Russell Westbrook play against this week? The Thunder are back to action following the All-Star break on Friday night in Los Angeles to play the Lakers. In two games against them this season, Westbrook has averaged 33.5 points, 14.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game.
On Sunday, the Thunder return home to play the New Orleans Pelicans. In three games against them this year, Westbrook has averaged 32.3 points, 13 rebounds and 9.7 assists and per game.
Next: The five best NBA ALL-Star Games ever
Check back in with FanSided every week as we’ll be continuing to track the triple-double progress of Russell Westbrook as the 2016-17 regular season comes to a close.