With his third assist on Friday night to Jerami Grant, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook officially clinched a third consecutive season averaging a triple-double.
Last year, Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in consecutive seasons and he extended his streak to a third season on Friday.
Westbrook finished with 19 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds in the win.
As Westbrook made history once again, several players around the NBA honored him for the accomplishment, including Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Averaging another triple-double this season seemed inevitable but perhaps not this early. But after his 21-assist night on Tuesday, Westbrook needed just three more dimes over the final four games of the season to clinch it.
As Westbrook has recorded more triple-doubles than any other player in recent memory, some have started to overlook them because they feel Westbrook is “stat-padding” during games.
Most NBA players recognize his ability to put up triple-doubles given how hard the accomplishment is and the level of difficulty to do it over the course of a season.
Westbrook has certainly become the unquestioned king of the triple-double over the past few years although many believe his accomplishments won’t be fully recognized until well after he retires.
But the fact remains: Westbrook now has another triple-double average.
