Russell Westbrook Gets Second-Ever 20-20-20 in NBA History, Dedicates It to Rapper Nipsey Hussle
Russell Westbrook has made NBA history — and he did it in honor of his friend, Nipsey Hussle.
On Tuesday night, just days after Hussle was gunned down in front of his Hyde Park clothing store, Westbrook became the second-ever NBA player to achieve a 20-20-20 triple-double — an accomplishment he dedicated to the late rapper.
In the 119-103 game win against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard totaled 20 points, 21 assists, and 20 rebounds on the night.
The amazing feat has only been accomplished by one other player: Wilt Chamberlain back in 1968, who tallied 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists, according to ESPN.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s game, Westbrook, who grew up in Los Angeles like Hussle, honored the Grammy-nominated rapper and activist by wearing a Crenshaw shirt — where Hussle is from — and rocking out to his songs during warmups.
After earning his 20th rebound in the final minute of play, Westbrook, 30, was captured on camera yelling, “That’s for Nipsey!”
RELATED: Russell Westbrook Ties Hall of Famer Jason Kidd for Third Most Triple-Doubles in NBA History
Shortly after the game, Westbrook told NBA on TNT reporter Jason Terry of his history-making triple-double, “That wasn’t for me. That was for my bro. That was for Nipsey.”
“20 plus 20 plus 20, they know what that means,” Westbrook added, seemingly making a reference to the Rollin’ 60s, the Crips gang that Hussle was affiliated with. “Rest in Peace Nipsey.”
Westbrook also paid tribute to his friend in the interview, telling Terry that he planned on continuing Hussle’s “positive” legacy.
RELATED: Diddy, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and More Pay Tribute to Rapper Nipsey Hussle After Shocking Death
“[He was] somebody I looked up to, somebody that paved the way for a guy like myself growing up in the inner city,” Westbrook said. “To have those conversations with him, I’m just truly saddened by the situation.”
“Just continue to pray for his family, his wife, his daughter, and continue to live on his legacy in the right way,” he added. “Be positive in the community and for sure, I’m gonna do my part.”
Suspect, Eric Holder, has since been arrested in the Bellflower neighborhood of Los Angeles for the murder of the “Double Up” rapper.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, LAPD Chief Michel R. Moore described a personal dispute between Holder and Hussle, alleging that Holder showed up in front of Hussle’s clothing store multiple times before shooting him: “Mr. Holder walked up on multiple occasions and engaged in a conversation with Nipsey and the others that were there. He left and subsequently came back armed with a handgun and purposefully and repeatedly fired, striking and killing Nipsey Hussle.”
Moore also said he believed Holder was a member of a local gang, though Hussle’s slaying did not appear to be gang-related.
RELATED: Man Suspected of Killing Rapper Nipsey Hussle Identified by Los Angeles Police
RELATED: Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Nipsey Hussle
After news of the fatal shooting broke, Westbrook posted two images to Instagram to memorialize his friend.
“YOU’RE ONE OF ONE BRO!!! Rest Up King ????” the basketball player wrote alongside a photo of Hussle.
A day later, he also shared a photo of the pair hugging and simply captioned it, “?????”
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