New city. New uniform. Same production.
Wearing a Wizards jersey didn’t change Russell Westbrook’s identity as the modern-day titan of triple-doubles. The former Kia MVP announced a new era of his career with a performance that has become almost routine: 21 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds in his debut game with Washington.
The All-Star guard was a plus-10 in a game Washington lost down the stretch, ultimately falling 113-107 to Philadelphia.
Westbrook and Bradley Beal combined for 52 points, a likely preview of the Wizards’ star-studded backcourt that will try to get Washington back in the playoffs. Westbrook’s arrival marks a new era for Washington after he was acquired in exchange for former No. 1 pick and long-time Wizards guard John Wall.
Thursday night marked the latest Westbrook entry in the record books. The 32-year-old is just the sixth player in NBA history to log a triple-double in his first game with a new team, joining Elfrid Payton, Lewis Lloyd, John Shumate, Nate Thurmond, and Oscar Robertson.