Westbrook is first since Jordan to register four straight triple doubles

Russell Westbrook became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to register four consecutive triple doubles.

Author:
Ben Golliver
Publish date:
Mar 4, 2015

The masked man has joined His Airness in the history books.

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Russell Westbrook became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to register four consecutive triple doubles as he led the Thunder to a 123-118 home overtime victory over the Sixers on Wednesday.

This was a night to be remembered by any definition: Westbrook posted a career-high 49 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals while shooting 16-for-33 overall, 16-for-20 from the free-throw line and 1-for-4 from deep in 42 minutes.

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The four-time All-Star point guard did it all while wearing a clear mask after undergoing a procedure earlier this week to address a fracture to the zygomatic arch of his right cheek. The injury forced Westbrook to sit out a Sunday win over the Lakers in Los Angeles, but he was back with a vengeance on Wednesday.

[daily_cut.NBA] "Just a blessing, man," Westbrook said during a televised post-game interview. "I'm just happy to be here to play the game I love. My teammates did a great job of providing me everything I needed throughout the game."

Westbrook, 26, won Western Conference Player of the Month honors for February and took home the MVP award at the All-Star Game as well. His monster month comes at a crucial time for the Thunder, which are currently without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, who is sidelined with a foot injury. Westbrook averaged 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists in February, leading Oklahoma City to a 9-3 record and helping the Thunder climb back into the West's playoff picture. Along the way, Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average 31-9-10 for a month with at least 10 games played.

The Fox Sports Oklahoma broadcast noted that Westbrook joined Jordan, Maurice Stokes, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain and Robertson as the only players to register four consecutive triple doubles in NBA history. The five members of that group, aside from Westbrook, are all Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees.

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Jordan accomplished the feat during a sensational stretch in March and April of 1989.

Michael Jordan Bulls Pistons 630 — Manny Millan/SI

At age 26, the legendary Bulls guard posted 10 triple doubles in an 11-game stretch, including seven straight, while averaging 33.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 11.4 assists during that span.