With triple-double machine Nikola Jokic out on paternity depart, the Denver Nuggets leaned on the NBA’s biggest triple-doubler in historical past. They received the win, and Russell Westbrook turned the primary participant to ever notch 200 triple-doubles.
Westbrook put up 12 factors, 10 rebounds and a surprising 14 assists off the bench as Denver defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night time, 122-110. It is his first triple-double of the season and the 2 hundredth of his profession, the primary participant in NBA historical past to succeed in that mark.
Not solely is it Westbrook’s first triple-double of the season, nevertheless it’s his first double-digit rebound sport and solely his second sport with double-digit assists. He had one triple-double final season as properly, a 16-point, 15-rebound and 15-assist effort in opposition to the Phoenix Suns in April. However he is additionally 36 years previous and enjoying in his 18th season. Unless you’re LeBron James, placing up triple-doubles at that time in your profession is uncommon.
It hasn’t been an environment friendly season for Westbrook, who’s capturing 35.7 p.c from the sector and averaging 2.6 turnovers for the Nuggets this yr. But when his capturing contact has light, his vitality has not. Westbrook nonetheless performs with quite a lot of drive and enthusiasm. With the Nuggets missing in depth, particularly with Jokic and Aaron Gordon out, they want Westbrook to easily put up numbers — passing and rebounding that usually Jokic dominates.
Jokic is fourth all-time with 136 triple-doubles, nonetheless a good distance behind Westbrook. Oscar Robertson is second with 181 triple-doubles and is the one participant in addition to Westbrook to common a triple-double for a full season. Westbrook has executed it 4 instances, from 2016-19 and once more in 2020-21.
That is a part of why Denver needed to carry Westbrook on this summer time. Whereas he could not resemble Jokic bodily, Westbrook and the Joker do stuff the stat sheet in an identical method. In any case, if he retains on his present tempo, the following participant to common a triple-double will likely be Jokic, who’s placing up 29.7 factors, 13.7 rebounds and 11.7 assists in 2024-25.
Westbrook has now logged extra profession triple-doubles than Magic Johnson and Larry Hen mixed (200 to 197). Tuesday night time might have been Westbrook’s ultimate triple-double as properly, and it got here when the Nuggets sorely wanted it.
