Following his 27 point, 18 rebound, and 14 assist game last night in a win over the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook’s season averages are now 30.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game.
That’s right, he is now averaging a triple double 19 games into the season.
Russell’s early season averages have put the OKC point guard in rare company. The only player to average a triple double for an entire season was Cincinnati Royals point guard Oscar Robertson during the 1961-1962 season in which he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists. He narrowly missed the feat during his rookie season the previous year. The Big O actually averaged a triple double in totals for the first seven seasons of his career.
With the combination of his feline quickness and blood hound ferocity, Westbrook has become a one man band since Kevin Durant’s free agent departure last summer. His hunger, drive and overall tenacity has Westbrook in the early stages of replicating history.
In recent memory, Laker Legend Magic Johnson came the closest to averaging a triple-double during the 1981-1982 season with averages of 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game.
If Russell Westbrook can maintain these numbers for the duration of the 82-game season, we’d be looking at one of the most remarkable accomplishments in modern basketball history. Stay tuned.
