SportsWizards' Russell Westbrook Breaks 47-Year-Old Triple-Double NBA Record

Wizards’ Russell Westbrook Breaks 47-Year-Old Triple-Double NBA Record

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BEVERLY HILLS, May 11, (THEWILL) – After 47 years of a triple-double record standing unbroken, Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook has officially become the new NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles in the game’s history.

The Wizards’ guard needed only one more to reach his 182nd career triple-double feat which was set to surpass Oscar Robertson’s 181 and that was what Westbrook achieved during Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference of the NBA.

Westbrook had to rise to the occasion to lead the Wizards advance in the absence of Bradley Beal. He produced his usual output, reaching the record-setting mark in the final quarter of the match as he finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 21 assists.

Followers of his game had long expected this day to come since Westbrook led the Wizards on a winning run alongside remarkable teammate Beal in the second half of this season. He was averaging triple-double of 23.7 points, 13.8 rebounds and 14.3 assists in the last 10 games prior to Monday’s momentous game. It had been that type of season with another triple-double campaign with 22.6-11.6.-11.5 averages for Westbrook throughout.

Yet, his amazing run to this record has not come without criticism. Basketball analysts have not spared Westbrook the barbs of their sharp words with the accusations that he is just a stat-padder, only interested in doing enough to easily give him enough statistics to pad his growing record with little or no interest in making sure the team wins.

Yet, it is difficult to see how that makes the accomplishment easier. That the record stood for as long as it did shows that it is not as easy to achieve as merely stat-padding can bring about and there is no point denying the talent of Westbrook. The man himself previously noted that if anyone can do it, they would probably have done it and breaking Robertson’s record will not have been the incredible feat it has turned out to be.

Earlier, when criticisms of Westbrook’s approach of the 47-year-old record reached Robertson, the famed player, a long-standing supporter of the Wizards guard, expressed his hope that Westbrook would be able to get it while defending him from his critics.

The 82-year-old, who played from 1960 to 1974, said at the time: “There’s no doubt about it. I hope he gets it. I think he’s one of the elite guards in basketball, and I think it’s ridiculous that some sportswriters criticize him because he has not won a championship. Players don’t win championships by themselves. You’ve got to have good management. You need to get with the right group of players.”

Westbrook’s contribution has put the Wizards in contention for the play-in. He now has the all-time record and is turning the season into perhaps the greatest triple-double season ever for an NBA player.

When Robertson, heard that Westbrook had accomplished the feat and surpassed his long-standing record, which for great lengths of time seemed to be unbreakable, he said he was “very happy” for the 32-year-old adding: “Your family is very proud of you, and I salute you for all your accomplishments in the game of basketball.”

Another basketball legend, who now sits third on the triple-double list after Westbrook’s record, Magic Johnson, said he was “proud” of Westbrook’s achievement. The fifth-placed star on the list, Los Angeles Lakers point guard, 36-year-old LeBron James, called it “an incredible feat”.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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