Russell Westbrook’s tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder is over. The eight-time All-Star and 2017 NBA MVP was traded earlier this month to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal that sent Chris Paul, two protected first-round selections and future pick swaps to the Thunder.
Sources: Pick protections in Thunder/Rockets, Russell Westbrook/Chris Paul trade:
2024 first round pick, protected 1-4
2026 first round pick, protected 1-4
2025 swap, 1-20 protected
2021 swap, protected 1-4 — OKC can swap Clippers pick or Heat pick.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 12, 2019
Westbrook’s 10 seasons in Oklahoma City were packed with jaw-dropping plays and tons of triple-doubles—138 (second-most in NBA history) in regular-season contests to be exact—as the point guard became the most cherished player of the franchise since it relocated from Seattle to OKC.
The franchise’s all-time scoring leader, Westbrook won the NBA’s scoring title twice (2015 and 2017). He also led the league in assists in each of the past two seasons. Incredibly, Westbrook has averaged a triple-double in each of the past three seasons—the only player in NBA history to accomplish this feat.
Shattering franchise and NBA records, Westbrook produced plenty of memorable moments as a member of the Thunder. Without further ado, here are the five best games of his decorated career.
5. Career-High 58 Points
Result: Trail Blazers 126, Thunder 121
Date: March 7, 2017
Westbrook’s 58-point explosion came in a losing effort, but his career-best scoring mark had to be included in a list of his most prolific games. Playing in front of his home crowd at Chesapeake Arena, he shot 21-of-39 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Dishing out a game-high nine assists and adding three steals, Westbrook finished with a +7 plus/minus in the defeat at the hands of the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
4. Shades of Kareem: First Player since 1975 to Post 50-Point Triple-Double
Result: Thunder 113, Suns 110 (OT)
Date: October 28, 2016
In the home opener of the 2016-17 season—the Thunder’s first home contest following Kevin Durant’s offseason defection to the rival Golden State Warriors—Westbrook came through with a historic triple-double.
Westbrook scored 51 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished 10 assists. It was the first 50-point triple-double since NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accomplished the feat way back in 1975.
WESTBROOK (51pts/13rebs/10asts) = first player with a 50+ point triple double since..
Kareem (01/19/1975)
50p/15r/11a pic.twitter.com/3WfIWdMP8J— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) October 29, 2016
Trailing by 15 after the first quarter, Westbrook rallied his squad to an overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns.
3. Highest Scoring Triple-Double in NBA Postseason History, Franchise Playoff Scoring Record
Result: Rockets 115, Thunder 111
Date: April 19, 2017
In Game 2 of the 2017 Western Conference first-round series between the Rockets and the Thunder, Westbrook delivered one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history.
Westbrook posted 51 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, four steals and a block in the loss at Houston. His 51 points were the most scored in a triple-double outing in NBA playoff history. It was also the most points scored by a Thunder player in a postseason contest in franchise history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2_C0BJiE68
Westbrook’s 13 dimes tied a record for the most assists by a player with over 40 points in a postseason game. Westbrook accounted for 80 of his team’s 111 points (72%) via scoring or distributing.
2. NBA Record 57-Point Triple-Double
Result: Thunder 114, Magic 106 (OT)
Date: March 29, 2017
Westbrook had 57 points—the most scored in a triple-double in NBA history—and 13 rebounds with 11 assists to spearhead the Thunder to an overtime victory over the Orlando Magic. He rallied the Thunder from a 21-point second-half deficit. At the time, it was the greatest comeback in franchise history.
Coming up clutch, Westbrook knocked down the game-tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds to play to force overtime in the 114-106 win.
1. NBA Single-Season Triple-Double Record, Buzzer-Beater at Denver
Result: Thunder 106, Nuggets 105
Date: April 9, 2017
Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s record of triple-doubles in a season, securing No. 42 of his MVP campaign in a road win against the Denver Nuggets. He accumulated 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Scoring the game’s final eight points, Westbrook capped off the historic evening by drilling a 36-foot buzzer-beater. It was his fifth three-pointer of the night. The Thunder’s victory eliminated the Nuggets from playoff contention.
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