OKLAHOMA CITY — With assists on the Thunder‘s first three baskets in a little more than a minute Friday against the Detroit Pistons, Russell Westbrook clinched averaging a triple-double for the third consecutive season.
Paul George hit a wing jumper set up by Westbrook with 10:54 left in the first quarter, giving Westbrook 730 assists on the season. Because he’s able to finish the regular season with a maximum of 73 games played, he can average no less than 10 assists.
Westbrook became the first player since 1962 — and the second ever — to average a triple-double during the 2016-17 season. Last season he did it again, needing 16 rebounds on the final night of the season and pulling in 20 to secure the average.
Westbrook has 31 triple-doubles this season, tied for the third-most in a season. He holds the record with 42 triple-doubles in a season, set in 2016-17. On Tuesday, Westbrook made history by becoming the second player ever to post a 20-20-20 game — 20 points, 20 rebounds and 21 assists. Earlier this season, Westbrook made NBA history recording a triple-double in 11 consecutive games.
Considering how regularly he posts them, the triple-double has become somewhat of a ho-hum achievement for Westbrook. It was a dominant storyline during the 2016-17 season, but has been somewhat of a footnote this season.
Westbrook’s averages entering Friday’s game were 23.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game.