Russell Westbrook Extends His Career Triple Double Record While Setting Career Rebounding Record for Guards
On Wednesday night, Russell Westbrook extended his NBA career triple double record by notching his 205th regular season triple double as his Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors, 121-116. Westbrook scored 23 points on 9-13 field goal shooting while grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds and dishing for a game-high 10 assists. Westbrook's new teammate Malik Monk is thrilled by Westbrook's contributions, particularly since Westbrook became a starter for the Kings: "We needed it bad. Especially in the starting unit. I feel like for the last few years, we've been starting games pretty bad. With him going to the starting unit, it brings more oomph, more energy."
Westbrook now has 8734 career regular season rebounds, surpassing Jason Kidd (8725) to become the top rebounding guard in ABA/NBA history. Westbrook ranks 71st overall in career regular season rebounds, ahead of many Hall of Fame centers/power forwards, including Spencer Haywood, Willis Reed, Chris Webber, and Bob McAdoo. Contrary to what Westbrook's critics assert, his rebounds are not "stolen."
This season, Westbrook--who will turn 37 on November 12--is averaging 15.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, and 1.4 spg with shooting splits of .468/.432/.727 while starting four out of eight games. Westbrook signed a non-guaranteed veteran minimum one year deal for $3.6 million to join the Kings. Per HoopsHype, Westbrook's 2025 contract is tied for 299th in the NBA.
Regardless of what Dave "Vampire" McMenamin and other media members say to trash Westbrook's reputation, no rational person believes that Westbrook deserves to be among the lowest paid NBA players--but it is fascinating to see how perception becomes reality, and how media-driven narratives may affect a player's market value. I am not surprised at how poorly many media members treat Westbrook, because in 2014 I predicted that Westbrook would inherit Kobe Bryant's mantle as both the NBA's best guard and a "vastly underrated superstar." Westbrook is no longer a superstar, but he was the NBA's best guard and a vastly underrated superstar during his prime, and his contributions are consistently belittled to this day.
Westbrook plays hard, which should be a given for professional athletes but is often not the case. He teamed with Kevin Durant to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals, and to Western Conference Finals appearances in three other seasons. After Durant fled the Thunder to join the stacked Golden State Warriors in 2016, Westbrook did not pout and he did not demand a trade; he led the Thunder to three straight playoff appearances before being traded to Houston in 2019. Westbrook should get a special award for averaging a triple double while leading the Washington "Wheeze-hards" to the 2021 playoffs, the team's only postseason appearance between 2018 and 2025.
Some players seem to be in the NBA just for the money and the fame, but Westbrook seems to love not just playing basketball but competing as hard as he can for as long as he can.
Labels: Golden State Warriors, Russell Westbrook, Sacramento Kings
posted by David Friedman @ 5:06 PM
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