The career of Russell Westbrook seemed to be on the rocks when his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers turned out badly, but since joining the Los Angeles Clippers late last season, he has proved he is still a good NBA player.
It wasn’t that long ago when he tattooed the history books by averaging a triple-double in multiple seasons, becoming only the second player ever to average a triple-double in any one season.
Even at this stage of his career, Westbrook is still a perpetual threat to record double figures in points, rebounds, and assists in a game, and once he does so two more times, he will reach 200 triple-doubles for his career, per NBA Retweet.
Fun fact: Russell Westbrook is just two triple doubles away from becoming the first player in NBA history with 200 career triple-doubles. pic.twitter.com/NNp5nZMnQd
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) September 19, 2023
In 21 regular-season games with the Clippers, the Southland native averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 assists a game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range.
Those shooting percentages were well above his career averages of 43.8 percent and 30.5 percent, respectively.
As usual, the Clippers are considered by the national media to be championship contenders, but their roster is still flawed, as Westbrook isn’t a true floor general or leader.
In addition, the team’s two major stars — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George — remain injury-prone, and both are now getting up there in age.
Leonard has missed at least some of each of the last three postseasons, while George sprained his knee in March 2023 and was forced to sit out for the rest of the season.
Regardless of how this coming season turns out for the Clippers, Westbrook will make things entertaining for them at least some of the time.
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