Ranking Russell Westbrook's most iconic moments, from triple-double records to 20-20-20 game

Ranking Russell Westbrook's most iconic moments, from triple-double records to 20-20-20 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Russell Westbrook was one of the most polarizing players of his era, but there is little debate that he was one of the NBA's most exciting talents in his prime.

The former MVP announced his retirement on Wednesday after 18 seasons, saying goodbye to basketball after a career that included feats not achieved since Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.

While the last few years were split across a handful of different teams in a more limited role, Westbrook brought energy every night throughout his NBA career.

Here are the most iconic moments of Westbrook's career, from his 20-20-20 game to his memorable meme.

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9. Dunk on Rudy Gobert

Westbrook's time with the Lakers might not be remembered fondly by all, but the highlight might have been this monstrous dunk on the towering Rudy Gobert:

8. MVP speech 

After winning the NBA MVP award in 2017, Westbrook delivered a strikingly emotional speech in which he described the sacrifices made by his parents and brother:

Westbrook's MVP win was also the fulfillment of a destiny spelled out in a popular 2014 meme that came from Kevin Durant's MVP speech:

Westbrook looking at Kevin Durant's MVP trophy like, "Soon you will be mine." pic.twitter.com/ToNoP3C7cy

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) May 7, 2014

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7. 43-point NBA Finals performance

The Thunder never won another game in the 2012 NBA Finals after taking Game 1 over the Heat, but Westbrook delivered a performance for the ages with 43 points in Game 2. Still only 23 at the time, the budding guard added seven rebounds and five assists in one of the finest big-game performances of his career.

6. All-time triple-double record

In 2021, Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson's all-time triple-double record once he secured this rebound against the Hawks:

The achievement was iconic, but the moment likely wasn't all that Westbrook hoped it would be. The Wizards were playing on the road in only a partially full arena due to COVID-19 restrictions, so the game continued without much fanfare.

Westbrook's record is likely to be broken by Nikola Jokic next season, as Jokic has 198 triple-doubles to Westbrook's 209.

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5. Game-winner vs. Nuggets

On the day he broke the single-season triple-double record, Westbrook made the game-winning shot to sink the Nuggets and give himself a 50-point game. 

Here's that unbelievable moment to seal an MVP season:

4. 'What?' meme

Westbrook provided the internet with a meme still used to this day when he reacted with utter confusion to a reporter's question after a 2013 loss to the Jazz.

"What? Bro, what are you talking about, man? I'm out, man," Westbrook said, making a face that even non-basketball fans can recognize.

The question posed to Westbrook was, "Russell, did you guys lose this game, or did the Jazz win this one?" The young Thunder guard had no time for that thought exercise.

3. 20-20-20 game

Westbrook became the second player in NBA history to post a 20-20-20 game on April 2, 2019, stuffing the stat sheet against the Lakers to join Wilt Chamberlain in the history books.

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2. 57-point triple-double

Trying to do away with any doubt in his MVP case, Westbrook set a record for most points in a triple-double with 57 in a comeback win over the Magic on March 29, 2017.

There have since been three 60-point triple-doubles, with James Harden, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic all achieving the feat, but Westbrook went where no player had gone before.

1. Single-season triple-double record

Westbrook broke the single-season triple-double record, held by Oscar Robertson since 1962, in a win over the Nuggets on April 9, 2017: 

Westbrook had also just guaranteed that he would become the first player since Robertson to average a triple-double over a full season, and the all-time triple-double record was soon to be broken just a few years later.