The Rare Basketball Feat: Quadruple-Double And Its Scorers

has anyone ever scored a quadruple double in basketball

In basketball, a quadruple-double is a rare feat where a player accumulates double-digit figures in four out of five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. In the history of the NBA, only four players have officially recorded a quadruple-double, with the last one occurring almost three decades ago. The select few who have achieved this remarkable feat include Nate The Great Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson.

Characteristics Values
How many players have scored a quadruple-double in the NBA? 4
How many players have scored a quadruple-double in NCAA Division I men's basketball? 1
How many players have scored a quadruple-double in NCAA Division I women's basketball? 5
How many players have scored a quadruple-double in EuroLeague? 8
Names of NBA players who have scored a quadruple-double Nate "The Great" Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson
First NBA player to record a quadruple-double Nate "The Great" Thurmond
Year of the first NBA quadruple-double 1974
Team Nate "The Great" Thurmond played for when he recorded his quadruple-double Chicago Bulls
Date of Hakeem Olajuwon's quadruple-double 1990
Date of David Robinson's quadruple-double 1994
Names of NCAA Division I women's players who have scored a quadruple-double Veronica Pettry, Suzy Venet (twice), Jackie Spencer, Shakyla Hill

shunwild

Who are the four players to record a quadruple-double?

In the history of the NBA, only four players have ever recorded a quadruple-double, a feat that requires a player to reach double figures in four of the five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

The first player to record a quadruple-double was Nate "The Great" Thurmond, who achieved the feat in his first game for the Chicago Bulls. Thurmond's final stat line read 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. He was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985 and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1997.

The second player to record a quadruple-double was Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs. Robertson's stat line read 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. Notably, Robertson also led the league in career steals per game, averaging 2.71 over 779 regular-season games.

The third player to record a quadruple-double was Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon, known for his shot-blocking ability, dominated the game with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. He came close to achieving a quadruple-double on several other occasions as well.

The fourth and final player to record a quadruple-double was David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs. Robinson, who was the face of the Spurs franchise from 1989 to 1998, scored 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was named the league's MVP in 1995.

shunwild

How rare is a quadruple-double?

In basketball, a quadruple-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates ten or more in four of the following five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. While double-doubles and triple-doubles occur regularly each NBA season, only four quadruple-doubles have ever officially been recorded in the NBA, making it an extremely rare feat.

The first NBA player to record a quadruple-double was Nate Thurmond in 1974, with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. The other three players to achieve this feat are Alvin Robertson in 1986, with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals; Hakeem Olajuwon in 1990, with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists; and David Robinson in 1994, with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks.

In NCAA Division I men's basketball, Lester Hudson recorded the only quadruple-double in 2007. In women's basketball, Veronica Pettry of Loyola-Chicago achieved the feat in 1989, and only three other women have done so since then.

The rarity of quadruple-doubles is partly due to the challenge of reaching double figures in four different statistical categories, especially in steals and blocks. This is reflected in the NBA's official definition of triple-doubles, which notes that "reaching double figures in steals or blocks is extremely rare."

shunwild

What are the statistics of each quadruple-double?

In the history of the NBA, only four players have officially recorded a quadruple-double. The statistics of each of these quadruple-doubles are as follows:

Nate Thurmond

In his first game for the Chicago Bulls, Nate Thurmond became the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. In a 120-115 overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks, Thurmond recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals.

Alvin Robertson

Alvin Robertson recorded his quadruple-double with steals rather than blocks. His stat line read: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists.

Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem Olajuwon became the third player to record a quadruple-double. In a 120-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, he recorded 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists.

David Robinson

David Robinson is the fourth and most recent player to record a quadruple-double. In a 115-96 win over the Detroit Pistons, Robinson recorded 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks.

It is worth noting that quadruple-doubles are extremely rare, and no NBA player has ever recorded 10 blocks and 10 steals in the same game.

shunwild

How does a quadruple-double compare to a double-double or triple-double?

In basketball, a double-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates ten or more in two of the following five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. A triple-double is achieved when a player reaches double figures in three of these five categories. Quadruple-doubles, on the other hand, are extremely rare. They are achieved when a player reaches double figures in four of the five statistical categories in a single game. This feat requires a player to be dominant on both ends of the court, demonstrating a well-rounded performance in both offensive and defensive play.

While double-doubles and triple-doubles occur regularly each NBA season, only four quadruple-doubles have ever officially been recorded in the NBA, and these have been achieved by only four players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Alvin Robertson, Nate Thurmond, and David Robinson. The first recorded quadruple-double was achieved by Thurmond in his first game for the Chicago Bulls, with a stat line of 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. Olajuwon, a Houston Rockets center, achieved his quadruple-double with a stat line of 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. Robertson, the only player to achieve a quadruple-double without being a center, recorded his with steals instead of blocks. Robinson's quadruple-double included 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks.

In addition to these four official quadruple-doubles, there have been a few other notable near-misses. Olajuwon himself came close to achieving a quadruple-double on two other occasions, once finishing with 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 9 assists, and on another occasion recording 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 9 assists. Lester Hudson came extremely close to a quadruple-double, falling just one steal short, with a stat line of 25 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 9 steals.

The quadruple-double is a testament to a player's all-around excellence, showcasing their ability to contribute significantly across multiple facets of the game. It is a rare feat that requires a combination of skill, versatility, and a strong defensive presence.

shunwild

What are the rules for recording a quadruple-double?

A quadruple-double is achieved when a player records double-digit numbers in any four of the five primary statistical categories in a single game. These categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

In the history of the NBA, only four players have officially recorded a quadruple-double, with the last one occurring more than 31 years ago. The first player to record this feat was Nate "The Great" Thurmond, who achieved 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals. The other three players are Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson.

Recording a quadruple-double is considered extremely rare and difficult, as it requires a player to excel in multiple aspects of the game. It is worth noting that the NBA has recorded quadruple-doubles differently from other leagues, such as the NCAA, which has its own specific criteria for recognising this achievement.

While the NBA recognises only four officially recorded quadruple-doubles, there have been several near misses. For example, in the 2003-2004 season, Helena averaged a quadruple-double with 37.6 points, 13.3 rebounds, 11.6 assists, and 10.2 steals. She achieved this feat in six out of the 16 games she played.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, only four players have officially recorded a quadruple-double in the NBA.

Nate "The Great" Thurmond was the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. He achieved this feat while playing for the Chicago Bulls in an overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks on October 18, 1974. His stats for that game were 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks.

The other three players to record a quadruple-double are Alvin Robertson (1986), Hakeem Olajuwon (1990), and David Robinson (1994).

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment