The Kid: Y’all see this?
JR: Westbrook is amazing! And title-less.
DD: Is the Triple Double an overinflated made up stat?
The Kid: No, I don’t think so. I think he’s under appreciated.
JR: Is he like, this generation’s AI?
The Kid: He might be! Led OKC back to the playoffs when KD left. Now helping Washington make a push.
JR: I agree with Casey on underappreciated. It’s hard. The title thing gets in the way for so many greats, regardless of sport… But he’s definitely underrated
DD: I’ve heard a lot of really good arguments lately that we put too much on triple doubles and really we like it because it rolls off the tongue. I’m not arguing against Russ.
JR: Metrics do go in and out of fashion!
DD: As someone who has been enamored by the triple double, I may have been converted on the other end.
The Kid: If it wasn’t a tough thing to do, everyone who was as talented as him would get them.
JR: LOL!
The Kid: Especially averaging one for multiple seasons. The only player to ever do that puts him in an elite category, I think.
DD: Maybe. Some guys scoring 30 every night instead. And it’s only a recent stat. Or something people cared about recently.
The Kid: Oscar did it, though. Oscar was playing in the ’60s.
DD: Yeah. But he wasn’t trying. He just did it.
The Kid: That’s the weirdest retort I’ve ever heard. Haha.
DD: Because Russ is trying. That’s kinda his thing. That’s the only reason he has an MVP.
The Kid: He’s been to as many finals as Oscar, right? Only difference is that Russ has an MVP and Oscar had Kareem.
DD: I’m not arguing for Oscar Robertson.
The Kid: I know.
JR: You’re really comparing apples and apples here. They’re both pretty fabulous players.
DD: I’m arguing against the Triple Double really mattering that much. I mean, why not a trip 9s? It’s arbitrary. Especially because if Russ did it and barely put up 10 points, it wouldn’t even be news.
The Kid: I think it still matters.
DD: Okay, so where does he rank right now among players?
The Kid: Hard to say off the top of my head.
DD: Top 10?
The Kid: Oh no.
DD: Top 20?
The Kid: Probably Top 25. But has been for a decade, or close to a decade.
