Thunder's Westbrook clinches triple-double average
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[April 08, 2017]
(Reuters) - Oklahoma City
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook became the second player in the NBA,
and the first in 55 years, to average a triple-double over an entire
season on Friday.
Westbrook joined Hall of Famer Oscar "The Big O" Robertson, an
extraordinary guard in the days of dominant centers Bill Russell and
Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged a triple-double in 1961-62.
Westbrook was averaging 31.8 points (first in the NBA), 10.7
rebounds (10th) and 10.4 assists (third) entering Friday’s game
against the Phoenix Suns, leaving him six assists shy with four
games left to secure the feat. He had collected them by the early
part of the third quarter.
Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists in
1961-62, and was seven rebounds short of doing it again two seasons
later.
After high-scoring team mate Kevin Durant left to join Golden State
during the offseason, Westbrook was determined to pick up the slack,
and the lightning quick, high-leaping guard has done just that in
leading the Thunder to 45 wins.
Westbrook, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of
UCLA, is poised to eclipse Robertson’s single-season record of 41
triple-doubles after matching the mark on April 4. He has three
games left in the regular season.
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![](../images/040817pics/sports47.jpg)
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) prior to the game against the
Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark
J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Westbrook finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in
the Thunder's 120-99 loss to the Suns on Friday.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/ldn_medical_directory_small_2016.png)
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
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