The Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook is occupying a bench role this season, but that isn’t stopping him from making some history. Westbrook scored 23 points in a 136-125 win over the Detroit Pistons to reach 25,000 career points.
Westbrook reached the mark with a driving basket late in the fourth quarter. He made a foul on the Pistons’ ensuing possession and went to celebrate with his teammates.
The 2017 NBA MVP became only the 25th player in NBA history to reach that feat. He is also one of just four active players with that many points, with the other three being his Clippers’ teammate James Harden, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, and Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant.
“I’m so grateful to be on this team,” said Westbrook after the game. “I don’t take any of this for granted.”
Westbrook has accepted a bench role for the Clippers since the franchise traded for Harden and has been quite effective in it. Despite playing just 23 minutes per game, the 35-year-old is averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
The Clippers are currently one of the hottest teams in the league. They have won eight of their last 10 games and currently sit third in the Western Conference at 32-15, with just one game behind the leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
