Russell Westbrook Records 1st Perfect Shooting Triple-Double in NBA History
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook finished Wednesday evening's 122-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers having posted a triple-double for the 35th time this season.
This one was particularly special. Westbrook finished the game as the only player in NBA history perfect both from the field and the free throw line while notching a triple-double, per the Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com). He knocked down all six of his field-goal attempts in the tilt and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Two other players have gone perfect from the field in a triple-double. Wilt Chamberlain did so three times—including an 18-for-18 effort in 1967—and Draymond Green did it last season, but both missed at least one free throw attempt.
The Thunder nearly depend on Westbrook to total a triple-double to win, possessing an 82.9 win percentage when he records one versus just a 33.3 win percentage when he doesn't. The 28-year-old's play has kept the team competitive, currently holding the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
Westbrook owns the second-most triple-doubles in a single season, trailing only Oscar Robertson (41) for the most in NBA history. Should the superstar manage six of them in the team's next 11 games, he would tie Robertson, but he's currently on pace to miss the mark by one, per ESPN.com. It would take a mammoth run down the stretch for him to beat out Robertson, but Westbrook has an outside shot at it.
