Zach LaVine: I’ll steal rebounds ‘like Westbrook’ for a triple-double

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine nearly recorded his first career triple-double Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks with 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a losing effort.

But, he apparently wasn’t chasing a triple-double.

LaVine did the bulk of his damage in the first half and came up just short of the achievement. The fifth-year player jokingly said afterward that he would have channeled his inner Russell Westbrook to accomplish the feat, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

“If I’m going to go after a triple-double, I’m going to try to be like Westbrook. You’ll see me snatching rebounds away from people and stuff like that.” — Zach LaVine on whether his two-point, two-shot second half had anything to do with an attempt at his first triple-double.

— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) February 26, 2019

Of course, many around the league have accused Westbrook of “stat-padding” in the past in order to achieve his triple-doubles. So, LaVine was likely having some fun with that notion on Monday and wasn’t taking a shot at the former MVP.

Westbrook is third all-time with 128 career triple-doubles, trailing Magic Johnson in second place and Oscar Robertson in first place with 181. Westbrook recently set the all-time record with 11 consecutive triple-doubles, passing Wilt Chamberlain for the most all time.

While LaVine was likely making light of the situation, we’ll see if Westbrook takes exception to his recent comments although the Thunder and Bulls do not play again this season.

(h/t Clutch Points)