Some haters say that he is just stat-padding to average triple-doubles, well up until the last game of the 2017-18 season on April 11, Russell Westbrook has accumulated 25 triple-doubles and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s record is 20-5 during those games.

Say what you want, but men lie, women lie, heck even children lie, but numbers do not—and the numbers say that the Thunder have an 80 percent winning record when The Brodie triple-doubles.

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It’s not Westbrook’s fault that his seven foot tall center Steven Adams elects not to grab rebounds so that Westbrook can slide in and grab them, so we shouldn’t blame Westbrook for doing what his center chooses not to do.

“If you don’t want it, I’m gonna get it. Simple as that,” Westbrook said in a recent interview replying to the notion that he stat pads.

National Basketball Association’s reigning MVP, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Westbrook needs to grab 16 rebounds in the regular season finale on April 11, to clinch averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season.

The Thunder will play the lowly Memphis Grizzlies, who will be picking in the NBA lottery after the regular season and playoffs conclude.

Followers of the NBA will be watching closely to see if Westbrook can average back to back triple-doubles for the duration of a season, something that’s never been done before in the 71-year history of the NBA.

On the season Westbrook is averaging 25.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and a league leading 10.1 assists per game.

Although the Thunder have already punched its ticket into the Western Conference Playoffs, the team is still fighting for playoff position in the loaded wild wild west.

This is the same guy who had a commercial dancing to a song with the lyrics, “Now I do what I want,” repeatedly—if that doesn’t tell you that Westbrook’s gonna Westbrook, nothing will.
Jah-Tosh Baruti
Sports Editor

Westbrook grabbed 18 rebounds on April 9 in a winning effort, a 22-point blowout of the Miami Heat, a playoff bound team in the Eastern Conference.

He also recorded 23 points and 13 assists to account for his 25th triple-double this season, leading the league.

There’s no doubt that he’s capable of going off for high totals of rebounds in a game, as cemented by his rebounding in the Thunder’s last game.

The 6-foot-3 point guard has received much criticism over his playing style, with many believing he hunts for individual numbers over team success.

What will be interesting to see is if he decides to just go for it and get the 16 rebounds needed, even if it requires moving teammates out of the way or purposely missing a shot to collect his own rebound.

Although, if he takes that approach he’ll be taking on many questions about it.

The Brodie, as he’s known by, will get the 16 boards required to average a triple-double for another season and he won’t give a care about what questions the media asks or what fans and analysts have to say about it.

As Westbrook’s motto says, “Why Not?”

Mind you, this is the same guy who had a commercial dancing to a song with the lyrics, “Now I do what I want,” repeatedly—if that doesn’t tell you that Westbrook’s gonna Westbrook, nothing will.