Houston Rockets guard and nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook made history during Thursday night’s game in his hometown of Los Angeles by crossing the 20,000 mark for career NBA points.
Westbrook is the 46th player in league history to score more than 20,000 points, but he’s only the third to do it with 7,000 assists and 6,000 rebounds — joining LeBron James and Oscar Robertson.
Best of all, the former MVP and 2020 All-Star achieved his personal history while helping lead the Rockets (33-18) to an improbable road win at Staples Center against the Lakers (38-12), who have had the best record in the Western Conference this season.
The surging Rockets have now won seven of their last nine games.
Russell Westbrook has now scored his 20,000th point. He needed 34 points entering tonight.
He joins LeBron James and Oscar Robertson as the only players with 20,000 points, 7,000 assists, and 6,000 rebounds. #OneMission
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) February 7, 2020
Westbrook was questionable going into Thursday’s game due to a sprained left thumb. But the 31-year-old didn’t show any ill effects at Staples Center, scoring a game-high 41 points on 17-of-28 shooting (60.7%). He also had eight rebounds and five assists.
Westbrook will not play in Houston’s next game on Friday night in Phoenix, since he’s scheduled to sit out half of all back-to-backs this season for planned maintenance after offseason knee surgery.
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Russ has been sensational!!! Dropped 16 of his 31 in the 3rd. This is why the Rockets want to play small. Maximize Westbrook's strength as one of the best down hill players in the league.
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) February 7, 2020