Thunder guard Russell Westbrook now averaging triple-double
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook posted another triple-double on Monday, scoring 27 points to go along with 18 rebounds and 14 assists in a 112–103 victory over the New York Knicks.
Westbrook is now averaging 30.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 11.3 assists in 19 games this season. It was Westbrook's 45th triple-double of his career and eighth this season. The rest of the NBA also has eight such games this season.
It is the latest in a season anyone has maintained a triple-double average since Oscar Robertson in the 1963–64 season. Robertson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player that season after averaging 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 9.5 assists.
Westbrook hurried up and got his triple-double out of the way on Monday, as he completed the feat with 10:41 left in the third quarter.
After the game, he said he isn't concerned about the stats he is putting up.
"I just like to win and compete at a high level, play the same way every night," Westbrook said. "I've been playing the same way since I got in the league, so I just do the same thing, and [I'm] grateful to be blessed and play the game I love."
The only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season is Robertson, who averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game in the 1961–62 season for the Cincinnati Royals.
Robertson is also the only player in NBA history to enter December averaging a triple-double. The Thunder close out November with a game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Oklahoma City has won three games in a row and is now 11–8 on the season, which is sixth in the Western Conference.
– Scooby Axson
