Russell Westbrook triple-double streak mesmerized while it lasted
The Big Dipper's record is safe from Russell Westbrook.
Which is more than anyone else can say in today's NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard saw his scintillating streak of triple-doubles end at four on Thursday night, when he finished with 43 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in a 108-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The late, great Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for consecutive triple-doubles at nine (1967-68), while Michael Jordan was the last to reach this rarified air when he had seven in a row during the 1988-89 season.
Westbrook had another streak stopped as well, as he had gone seven consecutive games averaging at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds per game. Jordan was the last one to reach that statistical mark as well, having done it 12 consecutive times in March and April of 1989.
Yet as coming-up-short games go, they don't get much better than this.
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Westbrook, who had a career-high 49 points in the win vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, buried a late jumper that put the Thunder up 105-102. But he airballed a jumper from the top on the next possession, then couldn't close quickly enough on E'Twaun Moore (career-high 19 points) as he buried a three-pointer from the left wing with 2.1 seconds left that all but ended it as the Bulls came back from 16 points down. On the Thunder's final possession, he took the inbound pass from the left side and was swarmed by Joakim Noah and Moore and stepped out of bounds.
But while this recent triple-double charge may have captured the attention of the masses, the truth is that Westbrook has been dominating with an all-around game almost every waking second that he's been on the floor this season. As we chronicled in today's column about how "Good Russ" is fast becoming great, he not only leads the NBA in scoring but is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game (at 27.3, 8.1 and 7.0, respectively). Westbrook is the first player in franchise history to score 40 points in three consecutive games. This loss was no different in that regard, as he scored 19 points in the third quarter and hit 14 of 32 shots in all.
And it's not just the fans and media that have taken notice. The ones who came before him are appreciating him like never before too. Of all the best-known masters of the triple-double — Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird — none is more underappreciated than the next name on that leader list: Fat Lever.
From 1982 to 1994, the point guard who is the same height as Westbrook (6-foot-3) racked up 43 triple-doubles for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks (by comparison, LeBron James has 37, Jordan had 28 and Westbrook has 14). His best triple-double streak came in January of 1987, when he had three in a row.
But as Lever is the first to tell you, the idea that he can truly relate to Westbrook is as foolhardy as the notion that he can be stopped. Like so many others, Lever has been watching — and admiring — at every step along Westbrook's way.
"He's unbelievable," Lever told USA TODAY Sports. "I've always thought LeBron was the most powerful, fastest guy in the league above 6-8. Just put Russell as the 'Little LeBron' now, because he has those same dimensions and qualities."
Of all the Westbrook highlights he has provided of late, the end-to-end sprint and two-handed dunk in the first quarter against Philadelphia on Wednesday night stands out for Lever more than the rest.
"When LeBron (has been) MVP, it was the speed, the power, the dunk," Lever said. "And (Westbrook) had the two-hand dunk, full court? Who can do that?! Now I'm a fan, but I started screaming and looking for my kids (after that play). He was like shot out of a cannon and then he continues to fly down the court and then the sea opened and he just threw it down. ... That blows you away. It's two hands! It's two hands! When you go with two hands, that's power. Outstanding."
Lever would know, of course, because he thrived in an era that included some of the most outstanding players to ever hit the hardwood (his best season was 1988-89, when he averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 2.7 steals for the Nuggets). And when it comes to comparing Westbrook's talents to his contemporaries, he didn't hesitate to call on the biggest of names.
"I say he reminds me of a Clyde Drexler and a Michael Jordan," Lever said. "We used to call Clyde 'Full Speed,' and when he'd get to full speed going down the court, that's Russell. And then as far as the scoring and being able to get up in the air and float like Michael at the basket, to bring it down with that type of strength, that's Michael. So to me, it's like Clyde and Michael in one."
Translation: Even with the triple-double streak coming to an end, no one in today's NBA is safe.