By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
Last season, Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double and this year Ben Simmons, James Harden, LeBron James have had some remarkable performances, putting up high numbers across the board.
Yesterday, however, Russell Westbrook put up 27 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists; a triple-double on a triple-overtime win against the Philadelphia 76ers. There have been just six players in the history of the NBA to have recorded a 15/15/15 triple-double, and Westbrook is to only one who has done it three times!
Russell Westbrook / Oklahoma City Thunder (3)
- Date: January 16, 2015
- Stat Line: 17 points, 15 rebounds, 16 assists
- Date: February 24, 2017
- Stat Line: 17 points, 19 rebounds, 17 assists
- Date: December 15, 2017
- Stat Line: 27 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists
The 2017 MVP, had an incredible season last year, as he put up historic numbers and became just the second player after Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for a season. In his historic season, Westbrook also managed to put up a 15/15/15 triple-double with 17 points, 19 rebounds and 17 assists in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He has put up these types of numbers in his career three times (no other player has done it three times), but he has the skills to do it again.
On February 24th, 2017 in Chesapeake Arena, Westbrook led the Thunder to a 93-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. All night he crashed the boards, run in transition, played the pick and roll with Taj Gibson to perfection, but he also scored 17 points. On December 15, 2017, and a triple-overtime win against the Sixers, Westbrook scored 27 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and handed out 15 assists. Finally, he also had a 27/18/15 triple-double against the Golden State Warriors back in 2015.
James Harden / Houston Rockets (1)
- Date: December 31, 2016
- Stat Line: 53 points, 16 rebounds, 17 assists
James Harden was unstoppable against the New York Knicks in the final day of 2016 as he put up historic numbers of 53 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists. He became the first player to ever put up 50+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 15+ assists. In the 2016-17 season, he finished second in MVP voting behind Russell Westbrook. For the season he averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.
This year he has started his campaign for the MVP as he is putting up similar numbers to last year, scoring 31.5 points, handing out 9.3 assists and grabbing 5.1 rebounds per game. His stat-line of the 50+/15+/15+ triple-double will remain special for a long time.