History Made As Westbrook Sets NBA Triple-Double Record

Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 History made as Westbrook sets NBA triple-double record LOS ANGELES: Russell Westbrook and Robertson have scored 100 or more wrote his way into NBA history on triples on the all-time rankings, with Earvin Monday, bagging the 182nd triple-double “Magic” Johnson third with 138 and Jason of his career to break Oscar Robertson’s Kidd fourth with 107. “It’s just a bless- 47-year-old record. Washington Wizards ing...You put so much into the game,” star Westbrook, who had equaled Westbrook said. “Just to be mentioned Robertson’s record of 181 triples on with guys like Oscar, Magic, Jason Kidd, Saturday, sealed his record-breaking triple those guys. It’s just something I would nev- with 8min 33sec remaining in Monday’s er have dreamt about.” Wizards coach 125-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. Scott Brooks described Westbrook’s Westbrook’s 36th triple-double of the achievement as “phenomenal.” season included 28 points, 21 assists and “It’s great for him,” Brooks said. “You 13 rebounds. He is already assured of can’t take anything away from him. The averaging a triple-double per game this guy’s a winner. He’s making the basketball season. A triple-double occurs when a and the non-basketball world a better player makes double-digit tallies in three place. Not a lot of guys can do that, not a of the five major statistical categories in a lot of guys have the impact that he has, on game — points, rebounds, assists, steals and off the court.” Johnson, meanwhile, and blocks. had paid tribute to Westbrook’s record- Westbrook has averaged a triple-dou- breaking career prior to Monday’s game, ble per game in four of the last five sea- saying the Wizards ace didn’t always get sons, an eye-popping statistic that the credit he deserved. ensured he rapidly caught and overtook Robertson’s historic benchmark, which ‘Give him his respect’ had stood since 1974 and was once “When we show highlights, it’s how widely regarded as unbeatable. many points somebody had, how far can “Normally I don’t like to pat myself on they shoot out on the court,” Johnson told the back, but tonight I will,” Westbrook The Athletic. “Russell Westbrook is nei- said afterwards. “I am just so grateful for ther one of those things. He gets all these those that came before me.” triple-doubles, but you don’t see him on The 32-year-old Westbrook now has the highlights. The things he’s been able to several seasons left in his career to extend do, hopefully, we will say, ‘Give him his ATLANTA: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards is congratulated by Atlanta Hawks players after breaking the NBA his record, with few of his contemporaries love, give him his respect.’ This is really career triple-double record in a game between the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Monday in anywhere near his total. Westbrook has big. This is something I couldn’t even do. I Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP nearly twice as many triple-doubles as his know how big it is.” nearest rival among currently active play- Westbrook’s critics have accused him and Houston Rockets and a 2017 NBA Westbrook’s failure to land a champi- Robertson told The New York Times. ers. After Westbrook with 182, LeBron of artificially inflating his personal stats to Most Valuable Player award has yet to onship ring. “I think he’s one of the elite “Players don’t win championships by James is in second spot with 99 triples, keep his triple-double tally ticking over, yield an NBA Championship. guards in basketball, and I think it’s ridicu- themselves. You’ve got to have good man- while James Harden is third with 58. noting that a career that has included However, Robertson himself is among lous that some sports writers criticize him agement. You need to get with the right Only two other players after Westbrook stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder those who have dismissed the criticism of because he has not won a championship,” group of players.” — AFP.

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