4. Mr. Triple-Double
Last season, Russell Westbrook achieved something that had only been done once before: he averaged a triple-double on the season. In addition, he set an NBA record for most triple doubles in a season and joined Oscar Robertson as triple-double royalty. However, many fans around the league credited Westbrook’s amazing achievement to one of two things. First, a common argument was that Westbrook had absolutely no help and that’s why he was able to have such amazing stats. He tried (and did) to do everything himself. Second, people said he was a stat padder.
Heading into the season, the reigning MVP had his eyes on one target: a championship. While the Thunder are in the playoffs and the Finals remains the target for them, nobody believed Westbrook’s stats would even come close to last year’s totals. While Westbrook’s numbers declined in the three major categories due to Paul George and Carmelo Anthony’s arrivals, he still accomplished an unbelievable feat. With 20 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s final regular season game against the Grizzlies, Westbrook managed to clinch a season-long triple-double in consecutive seasons. Even the triple-double king — Oscar Robertson — didn’t accomplish this.
Say what you will about Westbrook and his game, there is absolutely nothing anybody could say to discredit his game. He’s become one of the most electric players in the game in recent years and with Durant leaving OKC, he’s only stepped up his play. There’s no telling what next year holds for Westbrook, but let’s not count a third-straight season averaging a triple-double out.