ATLANTA -- With a defensive rebound late in the fourth quarter Tuesday against the Hawks, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder recorded his 100th career triple-double, joining an exclusive club that includes just three other members in NBA history.
Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107) are the only other players with triple-digit triple-doubles.
Westbrook became the third-fastest player to reach the milestone. Robertson needed just 277 games to get No. 100, and Johnson needed 656. Westbrook did it in his 736th game.
"The group of guys that's ahead are Hall of Famers," Westbrook said. "I'm just happy to be a part of the crew with those guys."
Westbrook completed the triple-double milestone when he chased down a missed 3-pointer by Taurean Prince with 2:38 left for his 10th rebound. He finished with 32 points, 12 assists and 12 boards to lead the Thunder to a 119-107 victory.
After Westbrook hauled in the clinching 10th rebound, fans at Philips Arena stood and cheered for him.
"It's always crazy, man, to go on the road and just see, not just fans cheering, but just see kids in my jersey, because I never, ever imagined me playing in the league," Westbrook said. "So, to see that every time is always amazing for me, and I never take it for granted."
Tuesday's triple-double was Westbrook's 21st of the season and his third consecutive game completing the feat. En route to winning the league MVP award last season, Westbrook set a record with 42 triple-doubles, topping Robertson's 55-year-old mark, while also becoming the first player to average a triple-double since Robertson in 1962.
Westbrook has recorded more triple-doubles than 23 of the other 29 active franchises and has 31 more than the next-closest active player (LeBron James).
"Just to be in the presence of that, of him, to do what he does on a nightly basis, night in and night out," Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony said. "The focus you have to have, the intensity level you have to play with. For me to be able to be a part of that, to be alongside him, like I said, it's a special moment. I think it's something that we should all appreciate, moments like this and appreciate what we have and who we have, especially in a moment like we are in right now."
With Steven Adams out with a hip bruise and Paul George forced to miss the fourth quarter because of a groin injury, Westbrook went into takeover mode Tuesday night, scoring or assisting on 12 of the Thunder's final 15 points.
"Everybody knows how competitive he is," George said. "That's all you see him display is the competitiveness, the never-giving-up. That's what Russ is: a guy that's never gonna give up, and he's gonna play every possession. So, you've got a guy like that, he's not gonna allow a team to lose."
Westbrook has exploded as the new triple-double king over the past three seasons, with 81 of his 100 coming in that span, including 63 since Kevin Durant left the Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
The Thunder are 16-5 this season when Westbrook records a triple-double and 82-18 during his career.
"It's incredible," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "And I've always said this: He's one of the rare guys in this league -- certain guys in the league have to do something to impact the game. He doesn't have to take a shot to impact the game, and I think that speaks to his greatness. I mean, I think the fact that this is the 100th triple-double; 100 times, and he's a point guard, speaks to just his fingerprints are all over the game. It also speaks to how hard he plays. So, it's really a heck of a milestone and an incredible accomplishment."