OKC Thunder: 3 year anniversary of Russell Westbrook’s extraordinary achievement

Three years ago, former OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s triple-double record. It is something we will always celebrate.

Three years ago this week (April 7, 2017) the OKC Thunder was at the Pepsi Center Center to take on the Denver Nuggets with just three games left of the regular season. And it wasn’t just any season, it was an unforgettable year where Russell Westbrook had achieved the unimaginable.

OKC’s fearless and passionate leader needed one more triple-double to surpass the great Oscar Robertson’s 41 back in 1962.

Throughout the game, Nuggets fans cheered after every shot Russell Westbrook made, rallying around him. The thing is that even though he wasn’t on their team, people knew just how special he was and that what he was doing was something we may never see again.

Russ dominated the game, with every pull-up jumper, dazzling dime, and startling rebound. You were certain that he was going to accomplish the feat, we just had to sit back, relax and marvel at the history unfold.

With 4:21 left in the game and an assist away from breaking the record, everyone froze as they prepared to witness what was like something out of the movies.

Westbrook passed the ball out to Semaj Christon who knocked down the massive 3-point bucket. It secured Westbrook his 10th assist and made him the triple-double single-season record holder with a staggering 42.

As soon as it happened an uproar circled across the crowd, fans were ecstatic as the man in the arena capped off an incredible year. The game-winning buzzer-beater which gave Russ 50 points caused an even louder celebration.

The entire basketball world was astonished by what Westbrook had just done. Players such as LeBron James and CJ McCollum acknowledged him on Twitter and Blake Griffin tweeted to “give that man the MVP.”

Three years on, that moment and match are still engraved into our minds and part of our most amazing sporting memories.

It was one for the books and an insane culmination of every piece of Westbrook that he put on the line, every single night to give the OKC Thunder a chance.

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I decided to revisit that moment and can honestly say that it still gives me chills. Even when I know the outcome I still feel the nerves and then the excitement, and then the emotion of it all.

A lot has changed since that day. Westbrook is now on the Houston Rockets and the only players who were on the court that day and are still on the Thunder are Steven Adams and Andre Roberson. Current OKC sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari was on the opposite end playing for the Nuggets as he scored 34 points.

We are now in a new era with Chris Paul at the helm, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander our young star talent and many players with huge potential who make this team the success that it is. Adding a new chapter to the franchise’s long run of achievements.

We’ve seen many things change over time, players come and go but Westbrook showed us that memories never leave us. They can dictate our future, inspire us or even cause us to reflect on how significant something was.

It’s been three years and for Thunder fans, Russell Westbrook will always be our hero and our MVP. That’s why we will continue to celebrate him for many more years to come.