Haywood sums up Russ' legacy after breaking triple-double record originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Russell Westbrook has made a habit of inking his name all over the NBA history books over the last five years, but what he accomplished Monday night carries a bit more weight.
He recorded his 182nd career triple-double, breaking Oscar Robertson's record that stood for 47 years. It was a mark nobody thought would ever be reached and Westbrook did it just 12 seasons into his NBA career.
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Westbrook's legacy, taking into account his individual accomplishments and the lack of a championship to bring it all together, typically sparks plenty of debate among fans and pundits. Following Westbrook's record-setting night, former Wizards big man Brendan Haywood gave a great summation of how the former MVP will be remembered regardless of what happens the rest of his career.
"The fact that he got this record is huge and you can't tell the story of basketball without Russell Westbrook," Haywood said on NBA TV.
Few players in the history of basketball can make a claim like the one Haywood is describing. Westbrook may not end up in the Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant tier of the most influential and popular players ever, but like Robertson before him, he'll long be considered the triple-double king.
"When I look at Russell Westbrook, I just look at a competitor," Haywood said. "He's always been that, and he's been a guy that continues to get better and better, and on a nightly basis, no matter what his team needs, he can do it. After the All-Star break, Russell Westbrook and rebounding. Just let that sink in. Those aren't two categories that are usually synonymous together."
With triple-double No. 182 behind him, Westbrook can continue to stuff the stat sheet and build his career total to an even more unreachable status than Robertson originally had.
