Lakers

Lakers News: Russell Westbrook Talks Breaking Into All-Time Top 10 Assists List

“In the NBA, never dreamt of being in this position.”

During an otherwise unremarkable 121-104 blowout defeat against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Los Angeles Lakers reserve point guard Russell Westbrook made a big leap in the record books. His 10 dimes in the loss helped him hit the NBA’s all-time top 10 regular season assists leaders.

After the game, Westbrook spoke about the achievement.

“If somebody had told me 15 years ago, 20 years ago that you’d be top 10 in assists, I’d look at them like they was crazy,” Westbrook reflected. “In the NBA, never dreamt of being in this position, nor getting to the point to where I’m next to some of the greats. I’m just truly grateful and thankful for an opportunity to keep playing at the highest level and I don’t take any of that for granted.”

Westbrook crashed into the all-time top 10 during Monday’s Brooklyn loss, and has continued to build his tally in LA’s next game on Tuesday, a 129-121 overtime win over the New York Knicks. His total career regular season dimes currently stand at 8,980. He leapfrogged former Seattle SuperSonics (and, fine, Los Angeles Lakers) Hall of Famer Gary Payton to get there.

“I’m pretty sure whatever I would say, he would be talking right back,” Westbrook said of a hypothetical interaction with Payton. “I’m not a big trash-talker, I just like to compete. But I’m pretty sure back in his day, he would have talked some mess, and I’d be right back at him.”

He’s got Detroit Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas and his 9,061 career assists (achieved in just 13 seasons to Westbrook’s 15, to be fair) in his crosshairs.

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