It was late March of 1989 when Michael Jordan challenged greatness yet again.
Russell Westbrook is the 1st since Michael Jordan with 7 straight triple-doubles
Jordan did it in 1989. Now Westbrook has done it too.
The Chicago Bulls legend rattled off seven consecutive triple-doubles, averaging 30.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 11.0 assists during that stretch. He’d fall second to Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of nine straight triple-doubles, and the Bulls would go on to lose to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. But Jordan’s wide-ranging skill set as the greatest shooting guard — if not player — of all-time was on full display during that span.
Now, another guard has stepped up as a challenger to Jordan’s and Chamberlain’s greatness, among several others revered in history as NBA legends.
On Friday night, Russell Westbrook tied Jordan’s seven consecutive triple-doubles with a rebound in the fourth quarter. He started quickly, recording six rebounds and two assists within the first nine minutes, and had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists at halftime.
He’s not just stat padding either. The Thunder are 42-6 all-time when Westbrook records a triple-double, and 9-2 this season, with the two losses coming off of a buzzer-beater and an overtime showdown. Oklahoma City’s offense plays at a much faster pace, according to Nylon Calculus, and shoots 55 percent from the field when its star point guard snags a defensive rebound.
Westbrook is looking like the top NBA Most Valuable Player candidate, just like Jordan, who won five in his career (though he didn’t win it in the 1988-89 season). He’s recorded twelve triple-doubles on the year and is on pace to catch Oscar Robertson as the only player to average 10 or more points, rebounds and assists in a season, as well as joining both Robertson and Tiny Archibald as the only players to ever average 30 points and 10 assists in a season.
In honor of Jordan’s legendary season, here are the highlights from his historic seven-game triple-double streak.
On Friday, Westbrook did it in the usual ways. Here’s a fast break down.
Followed by this perfect alley-oop toss.
It really is the Year of Russ.
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