Russell Westbrook's triple-double average is in serious jeopardy
Russell Westbrook's flirtation with NBA history could get the cold shoulder on Thursday night.
The Thunder point guard is still on Oscar Robertson's heels headed into Oklahoma City's date with the San Antonio Spurs, but just barely. With seven or fewer assists against the Spurs, Westbrook would no longer average a triple-double for the 2016-17 NBA season, as he would have 649 assists (or fewer) in 65 games played.
Westbrook first started averaging a triple-double after a win over the New York Knicks on Nov. 28, in which he tallied 27 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. He hasn't had double-digit assists in the past four games, however, and he's had seven assists or fewer in 17 of 28 career regular-season games against the Spurs. As Kawhi Leonard is guarding the opponent's best player one-on-one with increasing regularity these days, Westbrook could be in trouble when OKC hosts San Antonio.
Of course, even if Westbrook were to dip below a double-digit assist average on Thursday, he could make up the difference down the road and still match Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double. There's still plenty of time left in this regular season, to be sure. But with each passing game, Westbrook's chance at a legendary milestone — and, perhaps, at NBA MVP — fades a little more.
