Russel Westbrook has been logging triple-doubles all season long and for the first time in his career, he recorded a rare quadruple-double. In their 101-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, he recorded 28 points 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and 10 turnovers.
Watching a player turn the ball over 10 times will make any coach or basketball fan scratch their head. But when it's Russel Westbrook and when you think of the things he's been doing this season, 10 turnovers doesn't seem like 10 turnovers. Superstars like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, James Harden have a high turnover rate because their respective teams rely on them a lot to make plays.
Elite Company
Westbrook now has 10 triple-doubles this season and 48 in his career. The rest of the league only have 11 combined.
He has tallied a triple-double in five consecutive games, the first to do it since Michael Jordan did it in 1989. Jordan and Westbrook are part of an elite company, that are the only ones to record five consecutive triple-doubles. The only two others that did it were Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain.
Rebounding Machine
Westbrook is averaging 10.8 rebounds, which is ranked top 10. Only the likes of Hassan Whiteside, DeAndre Jordan, and Dwight Howard, who are elite rebounding big men, are averaging more rebounds than him. Last season, he averaged 7.8 rebounds, which is considered elite for a point guard. That 3 more rebounds per game speak to how hard he plays every game. He is listed at 6-foot-3 but plays bigger and stronger than his actual size.
Playoff Picture
The Oklahoma City are now 13-8, good for fifth place in the west. If Westbrook can keep doing what he's been doing, the Thunder will likely make the playoffs.
The next four games for Oklahoma will be against playoff-bound teams: Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook will have to do more especially if Steven Adams is unable to suit up after suffering a sprained ankle.