Getting to an unrivaled NBA record

Playing in a total of 1,904 regular season games, 9-time All-Star and former league MVP Russell Westbrook has career averages of 22.4 points, 8.4 assists and 7.3 rebounds.

Entering his 16th season in the league with the LA Clippers as their starting point guard, the future Hall of Famer is on target for a never before done milestone.  The triple-double machine has an NBA record of 198 career triple-doubles and he's just two away from becoming the first player in league history to record 200 triple doubles.

When the 2023-2024 season opens, he could also join LeBron James as the only other player to score at least 25,000 points, 9,000 assists and 8,000 rebounds.  With 24,457 career points and 7,964 career rebounds, Westbrook most likely will reach the 25k points and 8k career rebounds.  He's currently 9th on the NBA all-time assists leader with 9,162 and needs 726 to dislodge bassketball legend Oscar Robertson at 8th.

If he maintains his last season averages, Westbrook could breach 25k points in about 25 games and needs 67 games to crack 8k rebounds.

With Westbrook's tenure secure at least for this season with a player option for the 2024-2025 season, LAC will have three All-Stars in its starting unit but Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, since their arrival in 2019 had only played together in 118 regular season games with injuries keeping both of them out of action.

Like Westbrook, George and Leonard have player options for the 2024-2025 season and if the Clippers can't contend for at least the Western Conference title, the trio's existence could be over.  But as reported, both Leonard and Kawhi intend to stay with the team.  We'll see.  They had made the playoffs last season but lost to Phoenix in five games in the first round.

There is concern in the four position as Marcus Morris, Nicholas Batum and Robert Covington, though still servicable, had seen better days.   The middle will have Ivica Zubac and Mason Plumlee alternating.  Westbrook has a reliable backup at point with the 23-year old Bones Hyland who averaged a solid 11.8 points and 3.1 assists.

Here's something to look forward to when Westbrook makes an unrivaled NBA record.