Houston (USA), May 8 (EFE) .- The Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook made history this Saturday by reaching 181 triple-doubles as a professional and equaling the all-time mark he was in power of the legendary Oscar Robertson.
Westbrook, who still does not have a league title, has surpassed legends such as Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107) and LeBron James (99), plus he can still reach number 182 that will leave him a solo leader.
The historic mark came in the third quarter, when the scoreboard favored the Indiana Pacers and Russell up to that point accumulated 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Westbrook spent a few minutes on the bench and eventually came the 10th assist with 1:19 left. The assist went to guard Bradley Beal, who was going to finish the game with 50 points and the Wizards’ victory away in overtime, 132-133.
While Westbrook finished the game with 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, being key in the victory of the Wizards (32-36) who consolidated in tenth place in the Eastern Conference with the right to play in the play-in for the playoffs.
“It is something special to have been able to tie the mark of a legend like Robertson, but the most important thing is that our team has grown every day and we are in the fight to play the playoffs,” said Westbrook. “Now I have to continue to be the best support for my team.”
For his part, Robertson, throughout the week has shown great enthusiasm and joy to see how a player like Westbrook could reach his historic mark.
“I couldn’t be happier about it. I really hope and wish that he (Russell Westbrook) outperforms me. I really enjoy the way Westbrook plays. He is a dynamic individual who spreads his energy wherever he goes. I think he is one of the great point guards of the NBA. In Washington he has done an exceptional job. “
The same concept shown by Wizards coach Scott Brookks, who already had it with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It’s just amazing what he’s accomplished and the way Westbrook understands basketball,” Brooks said. “He deserves all the successes in the world.”
He also joined Robertson’s thinking about the little respect that information professionals have for him when they talk about or analyze his performance in the field.
“It is ridiculous that many writers criticize him for the mere fact of not having a championship. The players do not win alone. They need a good group of teammates and a management according to the level of the squad to achieve it,” Robertson said in statements collected by the New York Times. “But you still have the option of getting it.”
Westbrook has not only tied a mark but is also a triple-double average for the fourth time in his career.
Robertson did it once in the 1961-62 season and Westbrook could afford to finish without points, rebounds and assists in the rest of the games that the Wizards still have to play in the regular season and finish with triple averages. -double.
So far this season, Westbrook is averaging 21.8 points; 11.4 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.
“It’s just brilliant how he’s made our team become respectable in the NBA,” Beal said. “With Wetsbrook we have earned the respect of the rivals.”
As if that were not enough, Westbrook’s mark occurred in the game against the Pacers, a team against which he achieved his tenth triple-double, a fact that marked another record, because with Saturday’s Westbook he added his tenth triple-double against him. Indiana team as a professional.
That led him to equal the best triple-doubles record against the same rival in his career.
In this way the ‘4’ of the Wizards joined Robertson, Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to register at least 10 triple-doubles against the same rival.
(c) EFE Agency