MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Tuesday night, Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook celebrated a remarkable milestone by achieving the 200th triple-double of his NBA career during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. This extraordinary accomplishment came late in the fourth quarter as his team secured a 122-110 victory.
At 36 years old, Westbrook concluded the game with a stat line of 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. However, he had to wait until the final moments of the contest to reach the defining milestone. With just 1:28 remaining, he was one rebound short of the triple-double when his teammate Dario Saric pulled up for a 3-pointer that missed. Westbrook then seized the opportunity to collect his only offensive rebound of the night.
Despite a late challenge from the Grizzlies, Saric stepped up and nailed a critical three-pointer with only 27.7 seconds left, which ultimately solidified Denver’s victory. Westbrook, however, humorously clarified that he was not thanking Saric for the missed shot that enabled him to reach his triple-double but rather for making the crucial basket that helped secure the game. “I thank him for making the next one to close the game, which is the most important,” he remarked.
Westbrook’s achievement places him 19 triple-doubles ahead of NBA legend Oscar Robertson and 62 ahead of Magic Johnson. His teammate Nikola Jokic currently ranks fourth with 136 triple-doubles, while LeBron James follows with 117. “It’s a blessing,” Westbrook expressed about reaching this milestone. “I’m truly grateful to be able to play the game (well enough) to do that. But I’m also appreciative of the ones who came before me.”
Westbrook’s teammates expressed their admiration not just for the volume of his triple-doubles, but also for his remarkable longevity in the league and the tenacity it took to achieve such a feat. Julian Strawther, a second-year guard from Gonzaga, noted that Westbrook is virtually a celebrity wherever they go. “It’s hard to put into words,” Strawther said. “Two hundred triple-doubles is a lot. I don’t even know if I’ve got 200 career games.”
For Westbrook, this milestone served as the perfect cherry on top of what he described as an incredible night. “Anytime we win and I get them, I’m always grateful for that,” he stated. “It’s my favorite time.”