Helena Frye
In basketball, a quintuple-double is achieved when a player accumulates double-digit figures in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. While double-doubles and triple-doubles occur regularly in the NBA, only four quadruple-doubles have ever been officially recorded, and no quintuple-double has ever been recorded in a professional basketball game. However, Wilt Chamberlain allegedly recorded a quintuple-double in 1968, but this is considered unofficial as steals and blocks were not officially recorded by the NBA before 1974.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A single-game performance by a player who accumulates double-digits in all five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a single game |
| Number of occurrences | 6 known officially recorded quintuple-doubles |
| Occurrence level | Almost entirely done at the girls' high-school level |
| First occurrence | Tamika Catchings of Duncanville High School (Duncanville, Texas) with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in 1997 |
| Second occurrence | Alex Montgomery of Lincoln High School (Tacoma, Washington) with 27 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in January 2007 |
| Third occurrence | Aimee Oertner of Northern Lehigh High School (Slatington, Pennsylvania) with 26 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 11 blocks on January 7, 2012 |
| Fourth occurrence | Kieonna Christmas of Fonda-Fultonville High School (Fonda, New York) with 11 points, 20 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks on February 23, 2024 |
| Fifth occurrence | Kira Reynolds of South Bend Washington High School (South Bend, Indiana) with 14 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals, and 10 blocks on January 6, 2025 |
| Sixth occurrence | Francis Welander in a high-school game in Norwich, United Kingdom |
| Unofficial occurrence | Wilt Chamberlain allegedly recorded a quintuple-double on March 18, 1968, with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals |
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What You'll Learn
Wilt Chamberlain's alleged quintuple-double in 1968
Wilt Chamberlain is allegedly the only NBA player to have recorded a quintuple-double. On March 18, 1968, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Chamberlain scored 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 76ers won the game 158-128.
Chamberlain's alleged quintuple-double is considered unofficial because the NBA did not count steals and blocks at the time. However, statistician Harvey Pollack, who spectated the game, reported that Chamberlain might have had more than one quintuple-double. Pollack is known for his compulsive record-keeping, with an entire library of tracked stats. Pollack also gave Chamberlain the paper with "100" written on it to commemorate his 100-point game in 1962.
Chamberlain's alleged quintuple-double is notable because it includes 24 blocks, which would be an NBA record, and 11 steals, which would tie the NBA record. Chamberlain's performance in this game adds to his reputation as one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He won two NBA championships, four NBA MVPs, and an NBA Finals MVP in 1972. He also made 13 All-Star appearances, 10 All-NBA Teams, and won seven scoring titles.
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Quintuple-doubles at the girls' high-school level
A quintuple-double in basketball is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates double digits in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. This feat is extremely rare, with only six known officially recorded quintuple-doubles, almost entirely done at the girls' high-school level.
The first recorded quintuple-double at the girls' high-school level was achieved by Tamika Catchings of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. Catchings recorded 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in 1997. The second recorded quintuple-double at this level was achieved by Alex Montgomery of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, in January 2007. Montgomery recorded 27 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks.
The third recorded quintuple-double at the girls' high-school level was achieved by Aimee Oertner of Northern Lehigh High School in Slatington, Pennsylvania. On January 7, 2012, Oertner recorded 26 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 11 blocks. The fourth recorded quintuple-double was achieved by Kieonna Christmas of Fonda-Fultonville High School in Fonda, New York, on February 23, 2024. Christmas recorded 11 points, 20 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks.
The fifth recorded quintuple-double at the girls' high-school level was achieved by Kira Reynolds of South Bend Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana. On January 6, 2025, Reynolds recorded 14 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals, and 10 blocks. The most recent recorded quintuple-double was achieved by Francis Welander in a high-school game in Norwich, United Kingdom.
It is worth noting that the NBA did not officially record steals and blocks before 1974, leading to some speculation about potential unrecorded quintuple-doubles prior to that date. For example, Wilt Chamberlain allegedly recorded a quintuple-double on March 18, 1968, with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals. However, these statistics were not officially recorded by the NBA at the time.
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The difficulty of recording another quintuple-double
While Wilt Chamberlain is said to have recorded a quintuple-double in 1968, with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals, there are doubts surrounding this claim. Before 1974, the NBA did not officially record steals and blocks, and so Chamberlain's record is not recognised by some. Statistician Harvey Pollack, who watched the game, reported that Chamberlain may have had more than one quintuple-double.
The evolution of the game since Chamberlain's time makes it even more unlikely that a player will achieve a quintuple-double in the future. The modern NBA is extremely high-scoring, with players putting up ridiculous stat lines. However, this also means that players are less likely to achieve defensive statistics like blocks and steals, which are two of the five components of a quintuple-double. In fact, some commenters have noted that 10 steals in a game has never happened, and 10 blocks only happens a couple of times a season at most.
The closest any NBA player has come to achieving a quintuple-double in recent years is Victor Wembanyama, who had a 5x5 game and a 10-block game. However, as mentioned above, it is unlikely that a player will be able to combine such high offensive stats with the requisite defensive stats to achieve a quintuple-double.
Outside of the NBA, there have been six known officially recorded quintuple-doubles, almost entirely at the girls' high school level. The first was recorded by Tamika Catchings of Duncanville High School in Texas, with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in 1997. The most recent was recorded by Francis Welander in a high-school game in Norwich, United Kingdom, although the date and specific stats of this game are unknown.
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The role of statistician Harvey Pollack in recording Chamberlain's game
Harvey Pollack was a sports statistician, journalist, publicist, and long-term director of statistical information for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was the only person to be continuously employed by the NBA since its founding in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. Pollack played a significant role in recording Wilt Chamberlain's record-setting game.
Pollack was Chamberlain's statistician during the six and a half seasons that Chamberlain played for Philadelphia, first for the Warriors and then the 76ers. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain scored 100 points, and Pollack covered the game and wrote "100" on the piece of paper that Chamberlain held up in a famous photo. Pollack also claimed that Chamberlain had a quintuple-double on March 18, 1968, with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals. However, this has not been officially recognized because the NBA did not officially record steals and blocks before 1974.
Pollack revolutionized basketball statistics by being the first to track things like offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks, steals, triple-doubles, shot distance, and other statistics that were not official until years later. He published a popular annual Statistical Yearbook for decades, which included comparisons between Chamberlain and his rival Bill Russell. Pollack was also known for his compulsive record-keeping, with one person commenting that he was like the "Einstein of early basketball".
Pollack's dedication to his craft and his unique insights into Chamberlain's performance highlight his significant role in recording and preserving Chamberlain's remarkable achievements in basketball history.
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Victor Wembanyama's potential to achieve a quintuple-double
In basketball, a quintuple-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates double-digit figures in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. A quadruple-double is similar but only requires double-digit figures in four of the five statistical categories.
Only six quintuple-doubles have ever been officially recorded, almost entirely at the girls' high-school level. Wilt Chamberlain of the NBA allegedly achieved a quintuple-double in 1968, but this is considered unofficial as steals and blocks were not recorded by the NBA before 1974.
Victor Wembanyama is a Spurs center and the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. He has been described as a generational talent and a generational shot blocker. He is 7'4" with a wingspan of nearly eight feet. Wembanyama has already recorded a 5x5 game, a 10-block game, and multiple triple-doubles. He is currently averaging 2.6 blocks per game.
Wembanyama has the potential to achieve a quintuple-double due to his impressive physical attributes and well-rounded skill set. As a shot-blocking center, he is in the ideal position to achieve the feat, as the quadruple-double is easiest to accomplish by registering double digits in points, assists, rebounds, and blocks. Wembanyama is already a skilled passer, averaging impressive numbers in blocks, and is on track to become one of the most well-rounded players in NBA history.
While Wembanyama has the potential to achieve a quintuple-double, it is important to note that it is an extremely rare feat. The NBA has only seen a handful of quadruple-doubles, and no quintuple-doubles have ever been officially recorded in a professional basketball game. However, with the NBA's high-scoring games and Wembanyama's talent, there is a chance he could achieve the historic feat.
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Frequently asked questions
No quintuple-double has ever been recorded in a professional basketball game. However, Wilt Chamberlain allegedly recorded a quintuple-double on 18 March 1968, with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals. This record is considered unofficial because the NBA did not record steals and blocks as statistics before 1974.
Victor Wembanyama has been known to put up ridiculous stat lines and is considered by some to be the player with the best chance of achieving a quintuple-double.
There have been six known quintuple-doubles recorded in girls' high school basketball games. The first was recorded by Tamika Catchings of Duncanville High School in 1997.
