Westbrook enjoys triple-double record: I'll pat myself on the back tonight
Russell Westbrook moved to the top of the NBA's all-time triple-double list in the Washington Wizards' victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook said he'd give himself a rare pat on the back after he broke the record for the most triple-doubles in NBA history on Monday.
Westbrook claims unprecedented 182nd triple-double in win over Atlanta Hawks
Washington Wizards star Westbrook landed his 182nd career triple-double in a 125-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, finishing the game with 28 points, 21 assists and 13 rebounds.
At the age of 32, the likelihood is Westbrook will add significantly to his haul before his career runs its course.
He went past Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson with his latest individual epic performance, having already left the likes of Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107) and LeBron James (99) trailing in his wake.
"I guess we'll see in another 50 years or so" - Westbook unsure whether record will be broken
Asked about the possibility of his record being surpassed one day, Westbrook said: "I'm not sure, I'm just trying to take it all in myself. I guess we'll see in another 50 years or so."
The former Oklahoma City Thunder mainstay, who joined Washington in December after a stint with the Houston Rockets, expressed pride at standing atop a list of greats.
He said: "It's a blessing. You put so much into the game and sacrifice so much that just to be mentioned with the guys like Oscar, Magic, Jason Kidd and those guys is something I never dreamt about as a young kid growing up in LA. I'm truly grateful for moments like this.
"Normally I don't like to pat myself on the back but tonight I will. Because I'm so grateful for the ones before me and so blessed and thankful for the one above that lets me go out and do what I do.
"I just go out and play and every night I try to do things that people say can't be done and my mind goes, 'Why not?'.
"That's how I think every time I step out on the floor – I try to do things people say I can and can't do over the years, proving people wrong and going out and competing at a high level."
Speaking about Robertson, who starred for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA before ending a 14-year career in 1974, Westbrook said the now 82-year-old had "paved the way for guys like myself".
"To be able to pass him, I want to just thank him because without him and the things he was able to do for the game I probably wouldn't be doing some of the things I'm able to do now," Westbrook said.
Westbrook: "I won't stop until I can't play no more"
Addressing his own future, Westbrook expressed an ambition to keep on producing.
"I will never change because I've been blessed with the ability to be able to play this game at a level nobody else can play it at, and I won't stop until I can't play no more," he said.
In the course of his history-making game, Westbrook also joined James, Robertson and Gary Payton as the only players in NBA history with 20,000-plus points and 8,000-plus assists.