Russell Westbrook recorded his 204th career triple-double as the Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 121-116 on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center. The point guard finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his first triple-double with Sacramento.
In a postgame press conference, Westbrook emphasized his continued impact despite nearing 37. “Honestly, it’s just a blessing to be honest, man. I don’t take this game, the opportunity to be able to go out and compete uh for granted. So, I’m just super grateful and and and thankful uh to be able to go out and uh still compete,” he said.
When asked about his rebounding performance, Westbrook made a bold declaration. “Oh, man. I’m the I mean, humbly speaking, I’m the best rebounding guard ever. So, when the ball come across the rim, I’m going to get it,” he stated. This came after collecting 16 boards, his highest single-game total in years.
Westbrook praised his seamless integration with the Kings. “Preparation. My first just my just, you know, I was able to prepare myself for whenever I was able to get a call in. Not just that, um the Kings has welcomed me with open arms. My job is to be able to find ways to adapt and find a way to help um, this team any way I can,” he explained.
The Kings leaned on Westbrook’s leadership in the fourth quarter as Dennis Schroder hit three 3-pointers during an 11-0 run that broke a 104-all tie. Schroder finished with 18 points, while DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 25. “We have so many guys on this team that can make shots, can make plays,” Westbrook said, noting the team’s depth and versatility.
Despite missing key players including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Domantas Sabonis, the game remained competitive. Golden State received 30 points from Will Richard and 28 from Moses Moody. Jonathan Kuminga scored 24 but missed a crucial layup with 24 seconds left.
Westbrook credited Sacramento’s defensive adjustments in the second half. “Just being more aggressive with him. We gave him too much space in the first half. We kept him in front of us. Made him shoot some tough shots,” he said regarding Kuminga’s limited scoring in the final two quarters.
Looking ahead, the Kings improve to 3-5 and will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Westbrook, who has already set the NBA record for career triple-doubles, expressed no plans to slow down. “Long as God continues to give me an opportunity to go out and compete, I’m going to give everything I have,” he said.
