Russell Westbrook triple-double watch: 16 games remaining

With 16 games remaining, here’s an update on exactly what Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook needs to do in order to become just the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire NBA season.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook is still on pace for history following two more triple-doubles this past week but it’s still not quite a sure thing.

Westbrook exploded for a career-high 58 points last Tuesday in a loss against Portland but failed to post a triple-double for the fourth consecutive game, all of which were losses for the Thunder. However, things turned around for Oklahoma City as they got a big win against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday and followed it up with another over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Westbrook had a triple-double in both of the victories.

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.

As far as our watch is concerned, Westbrook is still averaging a triple-double ( just barely in the assists category) 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.

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 is always in the mix, Isaiah Thomas has entered the race and Kawhi Leonard is probably in there as well. Kevin Durant may have been before his injury 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 and may be the favorite right now. 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 16 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 66 games, he’s averaging 31.9 points, 10.1 assists and 10.5 rebounds.

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 66 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 Dec. 17 by scoring 26 in a win against the Phoenix Suns, which put him at 820 exactly.

Through 66 games, he has a total of 668 assists, meaning he needs 152 assists over the next 16 games, which comes to an average of 9.5 assists per game.

Through 66 games, he has a total of 696 rebounds, meaning he needs 124 rebounds over the next 16 games, which comes to an average of 7.75 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 66 games, Westbrook has 32 triple-doubles, good for second on the all-time single season list after passing Wilt Chamberlain on Saturday, who had 31 in the 1973-74 season. As noted earlier, Oscar Robertson had 41 in the 1961-62 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 69 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 have a quick two-game road trip starting Tuesday in Brooklyn. Westbrook picked up 30 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in a win in their first and only matchup this season.

Oklahoma City will then travel to Toronto on Thursday in an attempt to avenge a loss to the Raptors back in November, a game in which Westbrook put up 36 points, seven assists and seven boards.

The Thunder return home on Saturday for their third and final matchup of the year. The two teams split the first two with Westbrook averaging 33.5 points, 9.5 assists and 11 rebounds.

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.