NBA News: Oklahoma City Thunder Star Russell Westbrook Wins 5th Consecutive Triple-Double; The Longest Streak Of His Career
Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook on Sunday (December 4) won his fifth consecutive triple-double in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves which the former won 101-92. It marked the 28-year-old's career's longest streak and also the NBA's longest since the iconic Michael Jordan's seven straight accomplished in 1989.
The Thunder have won six games on the trot now (they also beat Atlanta Hawks the next day) to rank fifth in the Western Conference now a record of 14-8 and it won't be an exaggeration to say that Westbrook has been pulling the team almost single-handedly through this NBA season.
Westbrook, who is in the middle of a dream run, said he "just play honestly", according to an Associated Press report. He said only aim is to compete at a high level just like he has been doing since he joined the NBA. This is Westbrook's ninth season for the Thunder.
The star player's triple-double, the 10th this season and the 47th overall, came in the middle of the third quarter and he ended up with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists.
Westbrook's coach and team members also showered praise on him for his show. Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said: "The worst thing you can do is take him for granted or take what he's doing for granted," according to an NBA article.
Thunder center Enes Kanter said Westbrook was not just improving himself but also those around him. "That's what a really special player does," the NBA quoted him as saying.
The game against the Pelicans also saw Westbrook hauling over 15 rebounds in a contest this season. When he was asked about the reason of making such a big improvement in rebounding this season, Westbrook said he was "just grabbing the ball before the other team does," said an ESPN report.
