The record had stood since 1974, the year Robertson retired.
“Russell Westbrook, I’m very happy for you,” Robertson said in a recorded video message. “Your family is very proud of you. And I salute you for all your accomplishments in the game in basketball.”
The record-breaking moment occurred Monday night during the Wizards’ game on the road against the Atlanta Hawks, when Westbrook snared his 10th rebound with a little more than 8:30 to go in the fourth quarter. He finished with 28 points, 21 assists and 13 rebounds in the game, a 125-124 Wizards’ loss.
Westbrook, in his 13th NBA season, has 36 triple-doubles this season.
It once seemed like this was a record that might never be broken. The only other NBA players who have recorded more than 100 career triple-doubles are Hall of Famers Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107). LeBron James is fifth on the all-time list, with 99, the most after Westbrook for a currently active player. The next active player on the all-time list is James Harden, who is eighth with 58.
A triple-double occurs in a basketball game when a player records double figures in three of the major statistical categories. Most often, this occurs when a player has double digits in points, rebounds and assists, but other statistical categories include blocks and steals.
Entering Monday night, Westbrook was averaging 22 points, 11.6 rebounds and a league-leading 11.5 assists per game on the season.
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