Westbrook clinches triple-double average for 2nd straight season
Russell Westbrook messed around and got a triple double ... for a whole season ... again.
The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard pulled down his 16th rebound of the game in the third quarter Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, which ensured him of finishing with a triple-double average for the 2017-18 campaign.
Russ entered the contest averaging 25.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.1 assists over 79 games. He was named the league's MVP last year after becoming the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who accomplished the feat in 1961-62.
Westbrook is the only player in history to do it twice.
Earlier in the day, the NBA's preeminent rebounding guard shot down the notion that he's a stat-padder.
"I take pride in what I do. I come out and play, and I get the ball faster than somebody else gets to it," Westbrook said. "That's just what it is. If you don't want it, I'ma get it. Simple as that."
He finished with a career-high 20 boards, 19 assists, six points, and two steals in the Thunder's 137-123 win over the Grizzlies.