Russell Westbrook Ties NBA Record Unachievable by Magic, Bird, LeBron or Other Greats

Russell Westbrook has become the king of triple-doubles in the NBA this season. He needs just one more to become the league’s all-time career leader in the total teammate feat.

Westbrook scored 33 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and dished out 15 assists on Saturday to give him 181 career triple-doubles, tying him with Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. Westbrook has dropped triple-doubles this season in sleep. One more snoozer will give him the league’s all-time mark.

The Washington Wizards needed every bit of Westbrook’s numbers in the 133-132 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Westbrook can break the all-time mark by Robertson on Monday as Washington plays at the Atlanta Hawks.

Here are the top 10 triple-double leaders in NBA history:

181 – Oscar Robertson181 – Russell Westbrook138 – Magic Johnson107 – Jason Kidd99 – LeBron James78 – Wilt Chamberlain59 – Larry Bird58 – James Harden56 – Nikola Jokic43 – Fat Lever

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on May 03, 2021. Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images

Westbrook, 32, already owns two triple-double honors in the league. In April of this year, he had 14, which is the most in history by any player in one month. In the 2016-17 season, Westbrook broke the single-season record with 42.

If Westbrook doesn’t score another point, grab another rebound or make another assist this regular season, he’ll still average a triple-double for the 2020-21 season, which will be the fourth time he’s done it in his career.

Robertson cemented his career mark in the 1961-62 season.

The last time a major career milestone was broken in the NBA was 2011, when Ray Allen passed Reggie Miller on the league’s all-time list as leader for career 3-pointers made.