When he did it the first time, he was praised and he won MVP honors for being the first player to do it since Oscar Robertson. When he did it in back-to-back seasons, people downplayed it and didn’t really put him in the MVP conversation. Tonight, Russell Westbrook officially finished the 2018-2019 season averaging a triple double again for the third consecutive year.
He accomplished the historic feat by putting up a light 19 points, 15 assists and 8 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
On the year, Westbrook has 31 triple-doubles, which is tied for third most in a season in NBA history. Of course, he has the record of 42, back in 2016-2017.
As for more records this season, he was the second player ever to record a stat line of 20-20-20 (in dedication to Nipsey Hussle) and earlier this year, he set history by dropping a triple double in 11 consecutive games.
The fact his name doesn’t come up in the MVP conversation, or the fact he was snubbed from All-Star starting spot and was only reserve is lowkey ridiculous. Padding stats or not, Russ is putting up historic numbers and people aren’t giving him the credit he deserves.
Hopefully he uses that chip to fuel the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s run in the playoffs.
OS REWIND: Russell Westbrook Dedicates Historic 20-20-20 Stat Line to Nipsey Hussle
OS REWIND: Russell Westbrook Passes Jason Kidd & Becomes 3rd in All-Time Triple Doubles