As the lone star on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook seems destined to have a monster statistical season. In 48 games without Kevin Durant during the past two seasons, Westbrook averaged 30.5 points, 9.2 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game. So what should we expect from Westbrook this season?
Twenty triple-doubles? Westbrook led the NBA with 18 triple-doubles last season, the most in a season since Magic Johnson had 18 in 1981-82. In the previous 50 seasons, the only player to record 20 triple-doubles in a season is Wilt Chamberlain, Elias Sports Bureau research shows. Chamberlain had 31 in 1967-68 and 22 in 1966-67.
Highest single-season usage percentage in NBA history? During the 2014-15 season, Westbrook posted a usage percentage of 38.4 percent, the second-highest single-season usage percentage in NBA history. Durant was limited to 27 games that season. Kobe Bryant has the record for usage percentage at 38.7 percent in 2005-06.
Twenty-five field goal attempts per game? In games without Durant during the past two seasons, Westbrook averaged 23.9 field goal attempts per game. No player has averaged 25.0 field goal attempts per game in a season since Bryant (27.2) and Allen Iverson (25.3) in 2005-06.
Tiny Archibald is the only point guard in NBA history to average 25.0 shots per game in a season. He took 26.3 shots per game in 1972-73.
Eight rebounds per game? Westbrook has averaged more than seven rebounds per game in each of the past two seasons, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game during that span, the most by a guard in the NBA. No other guard is averaging even six rebounds per game in the past two seasons (James Harden is second at 5.9 rebounds per game).
A point guard hasn’t averaged eight rebounds per game since Jason Kidd (8.2) in 2006-07. The only other point guards to average eight rebounds per game in a season in NBA history are Oscar Robertson (five times), Fat Lever (four times), Magic Johnson (twice) and Darrell Walker (1989-90).
Trying for 160 clutch-time field goals? Westbrook attempted 108 clutch-time field goals last season, fifth in the NBA. In 2014-15, a season Durant mostly missed, Westbrook led the NBA with 120 clutch-time field goal attempts. In 2010-11, a season that featured both Durant and Westbrook for the Thunder, Westbrook led the NBA with 151 clutch-time field goal attempts.
The only player to attempt 160 clutch-time field goals in a season during the previous 20 seasons is LeBron James. He attempted 162 in 2007-08.
Forty field goals in the final 24 seconds? Westbrook took 32 shots in the final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime last season. Only Damian Lillard and Zach LaVine (33) took more.
In the previous 20 seasons, the only player to take 40 shots in the final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime in a season is Stephon Marbury. He attempted 40 shots in 2001-02.