Looking at the 5 greatest milestones in Russell Westbrook's career as he joins the LA Lakers

Russell Westbrook with the Washington Wizards.
Russell Westbrook with the Washington Wizards.

#3 Russell Westbrook has the most triple-doubles in a single season in NBA history

Russell Westbrook with the Washington Wizards
Russell Westbrook with the Washington Wizards

Russell Westbrook became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season when he did so in the 2016-17 campaign. The then Oklahoma City Thunder guard, in the process, became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to do so.

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On his way to averaging a league-leading 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, Westbrook had 42 triple-doubles in the campaign, breaking Robertson's record of 41 in the 1961-62 season. Eventually, the feat, along with all of his displays in the 2016-17 season, helped Westbrook win the NBA MVP award that campaign.


#2 Westbrook has the most triple-doubles in NBA history

Oscar Robertson (left) and Russell Westbrook.
Oscar Robertson (left) and Russell Westbrook.

In the 2020-21 NBA season, Russell Westbrook had another big season, though he was often criticized for his style of play and for the Washington Wizards' inability to perform well as a team despite Westbrook leading the show.

Nevertheless, Westbrook averaged a triple-double, and led the NBA in assists per game. He also became the all-time leader in triple-doubles in competition history, surpassing Oscar Robertson's 181 triple-doubles, thanks to an NBA-high 38 triple-doubles during the campaign.

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Russell Westbrook has 184 triple-doubles in his career, and has led the NBA in that department in six of the last seven seasons.


#1 Westbrook is the only player in NBA history with multiple seasons averaging a triple-double

Russell Westbrook with the Houston Rockets in 2020
Russell Westbrook with the Houston Rockets in 2020

Not only did Russell Westbrook join Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire NBA campaign, but Westbrook now also has multiple such campaigns.

After he did it for the first time in his career during the 2016-17 NBA season, Westbrook repeated the feat in his next two campaigns with the OKC Thunder.

After a 'down' year with the Houston Rockets, where he put up 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game, Westbrook returned to his triple-double best with the Washington Wizards in the 2020-21 NBA season.

He has had four seasons averaging a triple-double for the entire season, and all have come in his last five NBA campaigns. In his career, Russell Westbrook has averages of 23.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.5 rebounds per game.

While his achievements are not as respected as they should, mainly because of some ill-advised decisions in offense and his team's postseason losses, Russell Westbrook could be the Wilt Chamberlain of triple-doubles.


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