There is a New Triple Double Champion of All-Time, and His Name is Russell Westbrook
Oscar Robertson retired as the NBA's career assists leader while also ranking second on the all-time scoring list behind only Wilt Chamberlain. Robertson set the career triple double record early in his career, and his final total of 181 seemed like an unbreakable record; Magic Johnson, who compiled 138 triple doubles to finish second behind Robertson, was so far behind the "Big O" that the difference between their two totals would rank 10th on the career list today! A good case could be made that Robertson was the best all-around player in basketball history. Robertson alienated the league brass by attaching his name to the lawsuit that paved the way for modern free agency, and his game is not appreciated by a younger, highlight-driven generation that may not be impressed by footage of Robertson even if they had access to such footage.
It is important to understand Robertson's rightful place in basketball history in order to appreciate what Russell Westbrook has accomplished and how great Westbrook is. Westbrook's 28 points, 21 assists, and 13 rebounds in Washington's 125-124 loss to Atlanta on Monday night broke his tie with Robertson on the career triple double list, and established Westbrook as the all-time triple double king. Robertson's record stood for the vast majority of NBA history up to this point, and even with the increasing number of triple doubles we see today it may very well be 50 years before anyone surpasses Westbrook's final total; the second highest ranking current player, LeBron James, has 99 triple doubles. A player could play 72 games a year for 10 seasons, have a triple double every four games, and still not match Westbrook's current total; the high level of durability and productivity necessary to perform like Westbrook does is vastly underrated.
Westbrook plays hard every game, he battles in the paint for rebounds against players more than half a foot taller and at least 40 pounds heavier, he is one of the best playmakers of all-time, and he has shown that he can average 30 ppg in a season or score 50 points in a game if his team needs him to be a big-time scorer. All-Star players have their best seasons when playing alongside Westbrook--as can be seen by looking at the statistics of Kevin Durant, Paul George, James Harden, and Bradley Beal.
Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd (whose 107 triple doubles rank fourth on the career list), and LeBron James were among the legends who appeared in a tribute video for Westbrook released by the Wizards after Westbrook set the mark.
Years ago, both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant said that Westbrook is the current player who most reminds them of themselves.
Westbrook's approach to basketball and life sets a wonderful example: "My motto is 'Why not?' That's how I live and that's how I think. Each and every time I step on the floor, I try to do things that people said I can't do over the years and prove people wrong."
Labels: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Magid Johnson, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards
posted by David Friedman @ 4:46 AM
13 Comments:
"It is important to understand Robertson's rightful place in basketball history in order to appreciate what Russell Westbrook has accomplished and how great Westbrook is."
Too many basketball "fans" and "analysts" don't know, understand, or accept Oscar's place in history. That alone stops people from comprehending what Westbrook has accomplished. It's sad how Robertson has been brushed aside.
If LeBron, Doncic, or Jokic were in Westbrook's place, the media would be tripping over themselves trying to declare that player the GOAT, giving him every MVP, and trying to get the logo redone in his image. I'm hearing Westbrook might not even make an All-NBA team - which is a joke. Do you still consider Westbrook to be a top 10 player in today's league?
Simply amazing, both in terms of Westbrook's unthinkable accomplishments and the media/fans' interpretation of his career/legacy. He will probably end his career with at least 200 triple doubles and many people will still scoff at the idea of him being a top 50 player all-time because he isn't a "winner". Most of these same people have eagerly added Harden and Chris Paul to their top 50 list and the idea that Westbrook might be equal or greater than those two would make them physically ill. If Harden or Paul ever averaged a triple double for just one entire season these people might go into an actual, literal seizure yet they have nothing but scornful dismissiveness for Westbrook having four such seasons.
As you have said, if getting triple doubles were easy then a bunch of players would be racking them up. All players want to get triple doubles but the reality is that most players simply lack the necessary athleticism and all-around ability. I know that some people say that the current less physical small ball era is making it easy for Westbrook to do what he is doing but again, why is he the only one doing it if it's so easy? I think that Westbrook could average at least 20-10-10 in any era although I wouldn't be shocked if he had more difficulty averaging at least 10 rpg in a more physical, center-dominated era but I have no way of proving this and Westbrook would still probably find a way.
Just out of curiosity, where would you rank Westbrook all-time if he ends his career with well over 200 triple doubles and a championship where he is no worse than a 1B or second option?
Kyle:
Yes, I consider Westbrook to be a top 10 player in today's league.
Michael:
Westbrook is already on my 50 Greatest Players List. It would be difficult for any player under 6-5 to crack my Pantheon (Jerry West is the only player shorter than 6-5 in my Pantheon), but Westbrook is solidly in that group of 15-20 players right below the Pantheon.
Marcel
Kyle falls stop it
LeBron is the most disrespected player in nba history
Westbrook record is great when u take into account that his first 6 years he only had like 30 triple doubles
He got like 150 triple doubles in 6 years
He always plays hard and has given everything he has too any team he plays on
I wonder in a couple years will he go to join a team to try to get a ring idk how much it matters to him
Westbrook top 50 def prob top 30
He a 9 time all nba player
Not all star all nba
I think he gets more love from media than kobe or lebron does
But russel westbrook is def a all time great player
And im a critic david
Jamal Crawford on Russell Westbrook https://twitter.com/hoopsdontstop/status/1392882335813619716
Anonymous:
Players know who can play, and the honest ones will tell you who can play. Many media members and "stat gurus" spew nonsense, but the players know what's up.
I'm assuming your top 10 would look like this (alphabetical)?
Antetokounmpo
Curry
Davis
Durant
Doncic
Embiid
James
Jokic
Leonard
Westbrook
Kyle:
I think that is a good top 10 if everyone is healthy but that would not be what my MVP ballot would look like this year because I eliminate from consideration players who miss too many games. Davis, Durant, Embiid, James, and Leonard would not appear on my MVP ballot for 2021 for that reason. I would select Jokic narrowly over Antetokounmpo. Westbrook should be top five this year, but I wonder if he will even get a single fifth place vote (each MVP ballot has room for five names, listed in order).
Yeah the only other player I could see in that Top 10 is Harden depending on how one is ranking the players. I agree that Jokic and Giannis should be the top 2 vote getters. Too many injuries to consider anyone else realistically. I also agree that both Curry and Westbrook should both be considered for Top 5 votes. Look at NBA.com's Race to MVP. Westbrook is not even in the top 10! It's just silly.
Kyle:
Harden came into camp out of shape, wrecked the Rockets before demanding a trade, and then missed too many games to be in the MVP conversation--and his new team has been winning without him. Harden should not be on any MVP or All-NBA ballots this season.
I avoid reading NBA.com's Race to MVP, so I have no idea what it says, but I am not surprised if what it says makes no sense.
You don't need to convince me about Harden. In my entire history of watching basketball, Harden is likely my most disliked player - top 5 at worst. I was just suggesting that if someone ranked Harden as the 10th best player in the league, I wouldn't argue too much. Ranking someone like a young Doncic over him is not something I feel strongly about.
I avoid reading and listening to a lot of nonsense basketball talk as well, but it's always nice to get a good chuckle.
Kyle:
I understand what you are saying in terms of ranking Harden 10th in the abstract, but in terms of year-end awards no one who misses that many games should get any votes.
I can laugh at the nonsense until I remember that people get paid--in many instances, quite well--to write and say nonsense.
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