National Basketball Association

5 Reasons Why Russell Westbrook Can Average A Triple-Double

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:57 a.m. ET

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Russell Westbrook is off to one of best starts to a season we have seen in quite some time. Currently averaging a triple-double, there are questions being asked if he can sustain this pace for the entire season.

Nov 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Thunder won 132-129. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Westbrook is an absolute beast. There are no questions regarding his unbelievable skill set that has made him one of the most entertaining athletes in all of sports. But there is one looming question hanging over Westbrook’s head; can he average a triple-double all season long?

Westbrook is currently averaging a remarkable 31.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game through the first 24 games of the season and has 12 triple-doubles so far. The rest of the NBA has 14 combined.

He has been forced to be a dominant scorer, rebounder and passer for the Oklahoma City Thunder after the departure of Kevin Durant in the offseason.

The only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season is Oscar Robertson. “The Big O” averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game during the 1961-62 season.

Westbrook is looking to join elite company while helping the Thunder be a competitor in the stacked Western Conference.

Here are five reasons why he is completely capable of averaging a triple-double for the remainder of the season.

Nov 28, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

He Is Able To Stay Healthy

Westbrook has had a very good streak of being able to stay healthy for the duration of seasons. He did not miss a single game through his first five seasons in the NBA.

During the 2013-14 season, Westbrook encountered his first major injury since being in the pros. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery just before the start of the season that sidelined him for the first two games of the season, which was a much quicker recovery than expected.

This was months after he had surgery in the same knee to repair a torn lateral meniscus.

On Dec. 27, 2013, Westbrook again had surgery on the same knee because of swelling. He missed a good chunk of the season due to this but eventually recovered. He played only 46 games that season.

Along with knee surgeries, he missed a couple games here and there during the 2014-15 season due to a right hand fracture and a cheek fracture, playing in 67 games during the season.

Overall, Westbrook has been extremely healthy compared to some other superstars throughout the league (*cough cough* Derrick Rose). Westbrook’s physical attributes have been able to somehow endure the beating he puts on his body every time he laces up the sneakers.

His ability to absolutely destroy rims on a nightly basis while being durable is unreal. He takes care of his body. He knows his abilities and sticks to them, while exceeding what we thought was possible for humans to do.

Westbrook is one of the most explosive players to ever grace the hardwood but his ability to stay on the court makes him that much more special.

Nov 16, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket in front of Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Westbrook Can Single-Handedly Will A Win Out Of The Thunder

Russell Westbrook provides a passion and love for the game that is unrivaled. Watching him is like watching “The Russell Westbrook Show” rather than a basketball game at times. He is a human highlight reel waiting to be played.

With this enthusiasm comes his relentless will to win. He has been known to single-handedly take over a game when the Thunder are a bit lackadaisical. Westbrook can do it all on not only the offensive side of the ball, but on defense as well.

He leads his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game and has proven to be the most dynamic player in the league. Whether it’s a 12-point, 10-rebound and 11-assist game or exploding for a 30-15-10 game, Westbrook does what needs to be done in order to get the win.

Make no mistake, Westbrook loves filling up the stat sheet, but he has been on record multiple times saying that at the end of the day, all that matters is winning and getting to the playoffs. He does the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

Whether that’s diving for loose balls, locking down the opposing teams best defender or relentlessly finishing around the cup, Westbrook provides that spark that every team needs.

He is the heartbeat for the Thunder and they need him to thrive in order to succeed.

Nov 28, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts during the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Brodie Is Lonely

In order for the Thunder to be successful, Westbrook has to be successful. After four-time scoring champ and MVP Kevin Durant took his talents to the Bay Area this past offseason, Westbrook needed to be “that guy.”

He took a lot of heat during the Durant-Westbrook days and seemed to get blamed for any failures the team was enduring while Durant was getting praised for any accomplishments. Now, he is that guy. He is blamed for any failures and is praised for any accomplishments.

The Thunder organization got some help this offseason when they signed Victor Oladipo to a four-year, $84 million contract. Oladipo fills part of the void that Durant left behind but it isn’t the one-two punch it used to be. Now it’s sort of the one-one and a half punch. Make sense? Perfect.

Rising star Steven Adams has also been helpful to Westbrook, but it’s next to impossible to replace “The Durantula.”

Having said all of this, it is very apparent that Westbrook has kind of been left alone on an island this season. He is forced to be a scorer. He is forced to rebound among the trees. He is forced to give the ball up and trust his teammates since he draws so much attention.

It’s no wonder that his stats are astonishing so far, but it’s not astonishing to think he can’t do it all season long.

Westbrook will be “the guy” in Oklahoma City for years to come and unless they can get some big time help around him, he might put up historic numbers in all major categories.

Nov 14, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles by Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The Dude Doesn’t Get Tired

Westbrook seems to play the game at 110 percent every single night. He is completely capable of playing a 48-minute game and have little-to-no fall off from beginning of game to end of game.

So much that fellow star LeBron James compared him to a very recognizable pink bunny last week.

James isn’t wrong. Westbrook seems to never slow down. He’s pedal to the metal all night and it’s that motor that has elevated him to this level of play.

Averaging a triple-double now is impressive, but if that motor and drive for the game continue for 82 games, Westbrook will gladly enter his name next to Oscar Robertson’s as the only players to ever average a triple-double for a season.

Going back to health, Westbrook has a tremendous opportunity if he doesn’t tire himself out. If his body can keep up with his mentality, Westbrook will accomplish this unfathomable feat. Head coach Billy Donovan rarely rests the superstar because he has complete faith in his ability.

Dec 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dunks the ball against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Possessions Per Game Help Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are getting their chances on the offensive end because of how fast-paced today’s game is. The Thunder are currently averaging 101.5 possessions per game, via ESPN.com, behind only the Nets (104.1), Suns (103.9), Warriors (102.6) and Lakers (101.6).

This gives Westbrook ample opportunity to show out when he has his opportunities. His ability to score, rebound and pass over a 48-minute game while getting more than100 possessions during that time allow him to average this unthinkable stat line.

During the 1961-62 season, Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals averaged 124.9 possessions per game, via cbssports.com, but were without a 3-point arc. Possessions are down overall, but the Thunder are up from last season’s 99.4 possessions per game.

It may not seem like a lot, but two extra possessions throughout the course of a game can give Westbrook the stats he needs to complete another triple-double.

Westbrook has all the tools to become the second player ever to average a triple-double and while we can speculate all we want, Westbrook has to continue his dominance for another 58 games.

In the meantime, enjoy his pure athleticism, as we may never see another basketball player like him again.

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