Kuzma joins 20-point, 20-rebound club in Wizards win over Magic

The Washington Wizards traded away Russell Westbrook last offseason, but one of the players they got back in the deal posted a Westbrook-esque stat line on Sunday.

In Washington’s 102-100 win over Orlando, forward Kyle Kuzma continued his hot streak by recording a double-double with 27 points and 22 rebounds. Kuzma becomes the third Wizards player since 1994 to join the 20-point, 20-rebound club, in addition to Antawn Jamison and Chris Webber. Prior to Kuzma’s performance, Jamison, who now works in the Wizards’ front office, was the most recent Washington player to achieve the feat in 2010.

Aside from NBA greats like Wilt Chamberlain, Dennis Rodman and Shaquille O’Neal, posting 20 rebounds in a game is no easy task. Kuzma told reporters after the game that Sunday was the first time in his life he’s grabbed 20 boards in one game.

“I had like 19 in high school I think,” he said.

Westbrook, who is both lauded for his gaudy statistical performances and criticized for padding his stat sheet, is the all-time NBA leader in triple-doubles — a record he broke while in Washington last season. He didn’t record a 20-point, 20-rebound game during his one season with the Wizards, but he did tally a 14-point, 21-rebound, 24-assist game against Indiana last May. That game guaranteed him his fourth season averaging a triple-double — an NBA record.

Kuzma’s previous best rebound mark was 17 in October against Boston. Kuzma, who is stepping up as Washington’s No. 2 scorer next to Bradley Beal and has been the team’s most clutch player, has a double-double in seven of his last nine games and 20-plus points in seven consecutive contests.

“Kyle made some huge plays. He rebounded the ball exceptionally well tonight,” coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Of course, we know he can make shots. He’s made big shots for us this season. He’s staying in attack mode, which is great.”

He’s now averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Wizards, who got back to .500 (20-20) with the win over the Magic.

“I just knew once I got traded that it was a golden opportunity for me to enhance my game and show everything that I’ve learned but also what I’m capable of with opportunity,” Kuzma said. “I’m just showing that right now.”