People took to Twitter to react to Russell Westbrook’s enormous, record-setting performance against the Denver Nuggets.
Tonight was a historic one for Russell Westbrook and the NBA as a whole, as a record that had stood for 55 years was finally surpassed. Oscar Robertson had held the record for the most triple-doubles in a season with 41 prior to tonight, when Westbrook notched his 42nd.
Against the Nuggets, Westbrook recorded an impressive stat-line — 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists while hitting a deep, game winning 3-pointer. However, this was nothing out of the ordinary for Russ as he has two other 50-point triple-doubles already this season.
With his triple-double tonight Russell Westbrook passed Oscar Robertson for most triple-doubles in a season. In Friday’s win of the Phoenix Suns, Westbrook recorded enough assists to ensure that we would finish the season with a triple-double average, not matter what else happened. To top it all off, his 48th, 49th, and 50th points came on a buzzer-beating 3-pointers that essentially eliminated the Nuggets from playoff contention. Fans on Twitter reacted accordingly.
#hist0ry #russ #goat #nba #posterizes #russ 🐐☔️🌪 pic.twitter.com/m5Yd2MOR7e
— alex || yeeticus.eth (@NBAkix) April 9, 2017
Russell Westbrook is having one of the most insane seasons we have ever seen. Dude is a machine.
— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) April 9, 2017
Other celebrities even chimed in to congratulate him.
History has been made....Woooooooow. congrats to my brother @russwest44 .... Unbelievable… https://t.co/H4T6sdEAcH
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 9, 2017
@russwest44 has my MVP vote 💯 Congratulations bro #Legendary #MrTripleDouble #JordanFam
— Mookie Betts (@mookiebetts) April 10, 2017
Brodie @russwest44 with the game-winner from deep after breaking the triple-double record. Why not!? @Jumpman23
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) April 9, 2017
Fellow NBA players even tweeted in honor of Westbrook’s historic night.
History made @russwest44!! Unbelievable season so far brother. 42 triple doubles...AND THE GAME WINNER HAHA!!! Wow. #WhyNot #42 #Day1 #Ern
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) April 9, 2017
Congrats to the Brodie @russwest44 on setting the record!!! #WhyNot #42 #StriveForGreatness🚀
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 9, 2017
Congrats @russwest44 ! Never thought in my lifetime I would see a person avg a triple double.. while leading the nba in SCORING. #MVP WOW.
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) April 9, 2017
Thanks Russ ... you the real MVP ✊🏾
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 9, 2017
Perhaps the most important tweet of the night? How about a shout out from the G.O.A.T himself.
MVP. #WhyNot pic.twitter.com/afnFmjeQiq
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) April 9, 2017
Next: Russell Westbrook breaks triple-double record
This historic night for Russell Westbrook should secure him the MVP award for this season. It’s been one of the most exciting MVP races in league history but performances like this have kept Westbrook’s stats in the historic range and kept him ahead of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and others. He has put of astonishing numbers, broken records, and single-handedly carried the Thunder to the playoffs. He deserves it.