Oklahoma City Thunder: Can Russ Average A Triple-Double For The Season?
By Alex Eddy
Through two games, Russell Westbrook has posted unbelievable numbers; can he average a triple-double for the Oklahoma City Thunder this year?
In the 1961-62 NBA season, Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for the entire season (30.8 ppg, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists). That year he played 44.3 minutes per game and attempted about 23 field goal attempts per game (22.9) along with 11 free throw attempts per game (making 8.9 of them).
No other player has ever averaged a triple-double for the entirety of an NBA season. Until now?
Russell Westbrook’s Numbers Through His First Two Games
- vs the Sixers: 32 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 21 field goal attempts, 9-11 from the line, 36 minutes
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- vs the Suns (Overtime): 51 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 44 field goal attempts, 15-20 from the line, 45 minutes
Russell Westbrook is going to get his touches this year with Kevin Durant no longer in the picture. He is going to get to the line as well, and it helps him out significantly that he is an 81.7 percent career free throw shooter.
I think he will average between 20 and 25 field goal attempts per game, which will be in the same ballpark as Oscar. We know he is hungry to win the MVP this year, but I think he really wants to match Oscar to prove how well-rounded of an NBA player he is.
There is one important factor that really concerns me though. Oscar Robertson averaged 44.3 minutes per game in his triple-double season. That is incredible stamina and durability to be able to do that for an entire NBA season. I am very worried about Russell Westbrook’s durability this year and the risk of injury.
As we know, he has had injuries in the past. In order for him to average a triple-double this year, I think he needs to be around that 40 minutes per game mark. The Oklahoma City Thunder need Russ out there for the majority of the game in order to give them the best chance to win, but will Billy Donovan honestly throw Russ out there 40 minutes every night? I doubt it.
He is such an explosive athlete, that he is naturally exposed to situations in every game that could possibly lead to injury.
Realistically, Russ will average around 35-37 minutes per game this year (just slightly above his career average). Can he average a triple-double this year? Despite lower minutes per game than Oscar, I think Russ has the explosiveness and determination to accomplish this incredible record. So, hesitantly, yes.
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I would feel much more confident if I knew he would be playing 40 minutes per game and would be healthy all season long. Oscar was 23 when he averaged his triple-double. Russ is 27, but I think we are witnessing his prime right now.
It will be close. We know he is going to get buckets (I think he will average around 30), but the assists and rebounds will be much more difficult to average double digits for an entire season.