Westbrook breaks Oscar Robertson's single-season triple-double record

Ron Clements

Westbrook breaks Oscar Robertson's single-season triple-double record image

Oscar Robertson's record of 41 triple-doubles in a single season had stood for 55 years. It's his record no more.

MORE: NBA players react to Westbrook's historic night

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 35 points with 14 assists and 10 rebounds with 4:16 remaining in fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Nuggets, passing Robertson.

The mark fell with Westbrook's 10th assist — a kick-out pass beyond the arc to Semaj Christon, who sank the 3-point jumper.


He finished the spectacular game with 50 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus a 30-foot game-winning three-pointer to seal the 106-105 win.

Westbrook nearly broke the record in his last two games. He scored 45 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in Wednesday's 103-100 win over the Grizzlies. His 10th assist of that game was a kickout to Doug McDermott for a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining in regulation to give the Thunder a 98-95 lead. He barely missed a pair of rebounds in the final minute, either of which would have given him the record.

He then came up two assists shy in Friday's 120-99 loss to the Suns as the Thunder shot 36.6 percent from the floor and Westbrook was just 6 of 25. 

Westbrook tied Robertson's hallowed record with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in Tuesday's 110-79 win over the Bucks. He's averaging 31.7 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds per game and has clinched a triple-double average for the season with just two games remaining. He joins Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. 


During his second NBA season, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, without the benefit of a 3-point line, to go with 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game for the Cincinnati Royals. 

Westbrook, who is in his eighth season, now has 79 career triple-doubles to break a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for fourth-most all-time. He still has a ways to go to catch Robertson's career mark of 181. Next on the list is Jason Kidd, who had 107 career triple-doubles. 

Robertson was a 12-time All-Star during his 14-year career and helped the Bucks win their only NBA championship in 1971.

Ron Clements