He was obviously not going to be happy about his teammate's missed shot. The fact remains that this failure of Dario Saric did the business of Russell Westbrook at the end of the match in Memphis. The Nuggets replacement leader had just found his inner self on the pick-and-pop with a little over a minute remaining.
The Croatian's missed shot fell into the hands of the leader on the offensive rebound, giving him a 10th rebound for the evening. And thus completed a new career triple-double with his 12 points (5/12 on shots including 1/4 from distance) and 14 assists.
“ I thank him for making the next shot to finish the match, which is the most important thing “, reacts the leader talking about his teammate's winning shot converted seconds later, as the Nuggets' offense slowed.
This new statistical performance allows him to reach the symbolic mark of 200 triple-doubles in his career. Already at the top of the category in league history, Russell Westbrook counts now 19 triple-doubles ahead of Oscar Robertson and 62 on Magic Johnson. His teammate Nikola Jokic is 4th (136), followed by LeBron James (117).
In the spotlight in the locker room
“ It's a privilege. I'm really grateful to be able to play (good enough) to do this. But I also appreciate those who came before me “, he blurted.
In the locker roomMike Malone does not fail to salute his performance by giving him the match ball. “ You already know, Russell Westbrook is currently at the top of NBA history with 200 triple-doubles », recalls the coach, also giving him the symbolic (and flashy!) medal for best defender of the evening.
Some of his teammates have difficulty achieving the feat accomplished, a mark of the longevity of the 36-year-old player, who arrived in the league in 2008. “ It's difficult to express. 200 triple-doubles is a lot. I don't even know if I played 200 games in my career », Remarks the young Julian Strawther, 63 matches under the clock.
With this milestone of 200 and a victory without Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook does not hide his pleasure: “ Every time we win and I get there (at triple-double), I am always grateful for that. It's my favorite moment. »
| Russell Westbrook | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | OKC | 82 | 33 | 39.8 | 27.1 | 81.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 15.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKC | 82 | 34 | 41.8 | 22.1 | 78.0 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 16.1 |
| 2010-11 | OKC | 82 | 35 | 44.2 | 33.0 | 84.2 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| 2011-12 | OKC | 66 | 35 | 45.7 | 31.6 | 82.3 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 23.6 |
| 2012-13 | OKC | 82 | 35 | 43.8 | 32.3 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 23.2 |
| 2013-14 | OKC | 46 | 31 | 43.7 | 31.8 | 82.6 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 21.8 |
| 2014-15 | OKC | 67 | 34 | 42.6 | 29.9 | 83.5 | 1.9 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 8.6 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 28.1 |
| 2015-16 | OKC | 80 | 34 | 45.4 | 29.6 | 81.2 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 10.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 ★ | OKC | 81 | 35 | 42.5 | 34.3 | 84.5 | 1.7 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 31.6 |
| 2017-18 | OKC | 80 | 36 | 44.9 | 29.8 | 73.7 | 1.9 | 8.2 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 25.4 |
| 2018-19 | OKC | 73 | 36 | 42.8 | 29.0 | 65.6 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 22.9 |
| 2019-20 | HOU | 57 | 36 | 47.2 | 25.8 | 76.3 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 27.2 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 65 | 36 | 43.9 | 31.5 | 65.6 | 1.7 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2021-22 | LAL | 78 | 34 | 44.4 | 29.8 | 66.7 | 1.4 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 73 | 29 | 43.6 | 31.1 | 65.6 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAL | 52 | 29 | 41.7 | 29.6 | 65.5 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 15.9 |
| 2022-23 * | LAKE | 21 | 30 | 48.9 | 35.6 | 65.8 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 7.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 15.8 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 68 | 23 | 45.4 | 27.3 | 68.8 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 11.1 |
| 2024-25 | DEN | 12 | 24 | 35.1 | 33.3 | 68.6 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 10.7 |
| Total | 1174 | 34 | 43.8 | 30.4 | 77.5 | 1.6 | 5.5 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 21.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
