Kristian Ferrell
In basketball, a triple-double is a rare feat where a player reaches double digits in three of the five main statistical categories in a single game. These categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For example, a player might score 18 points, make 12 rebounds, and assist 10 shots. While it is rare, it is not unheard of, and several NBA players have achieved this impressive statistic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A triple-double occurs when a basketball player scores in double digits in three out of five statistical categories. |
| Statistical categories | Points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. |
| Examples | 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists; 10 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. |
| Rare combinations | Points, rebounds, and blocks. |
| Common combinations | Points, rebounds, and assists. |
| Occurrence in WNBA | 31 triple-doubles have been recorded in WNBA history. |
| Occurrence in NBA | Triple-doubles are a regular occurrence in the NBA. |
| Record holders | Russell Westbrook holds the record for most career triple-doubles in the NBA, with 202. Oscar Robertson is second with 181. |
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What You'll Learn
Triple-double definition
A triple-double is a basketball statistic achieved when a player reaches double-digit numbers in three of the five main statistical categories in a single game. These categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For example, a player can achieve a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
It is a rare feat, with only a handful of players achieving it in the history of the sport. The NBA first started recording triple-double statistics in the 1979-80 season. Russell Westbrook holds the record for the most career triple-doubles, while Nikola Jokic holds the record for the most points in an NBA triple-double with 61.
Prior to the NBA, Oscar Robertson, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Cincinnati Royals, was known as "Mr. Triple Double" for his 181 career triple-doubles. He held the record for most career triple-doubles until Westbrook surpassed him in 2021. Robertson was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of a season, achieving 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game in the 1961-62 season.
While triple-doubles are rare, they are becoming more common due to the increased pace of modern NBA games, which leads to more possessions and opportunities for players to accumulate stats. The modern NBA is also positionless, allowing players to more easily put up stats not typically associated with their positions.
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Triple-double frequency
Triple-doubles are a rare occurrence in basketball, but they are becoming more frequent. A triple-double is achieved when a player scores double digits in three out of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) in a single game. For example, a player might score 18 points, make 12 rebounds, and assist 10 shots.
The NBA first started recording triple-double statistics in the 1979-80 season. Russell Westbrook holds the record for the most career triple-doubles, with 182 as of 10 May 2021, surpassing Oscar Robertson, who had 181. Westbrook also holds the record for the most triple-doubles in a single regular season, with 42 in 2016-17, and the most consecutive games with a triple-double, achieving the feat in 11 straight games in 2019.
The increased frequency of triple-doubles in the NBA is attributed to two main factors. Firstly, the pace of the game has increased, with a higher average number of possessions per game, providing more opportunities for players to accumulate stats. Secondly, the modern NBA is positionless, allowing players to put up stats not typically associated with their positions.
While triple-doubles are rare, even rarer feats include quadruple-doubles (double digits in four categories) and quintuple-doubles (double digits in all five categories). Only four players have officially recorded quadruple-doubles in NBA history, while no quintuple-double has ever been recorded in a professional game.
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Quintuple-double
A quintuple-double in basketball is an extremely rare feat. It refers to a single-game performance where a player accumulates double-digits in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. This means getting at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in a single game.
Only one player in NBA history is believed to have achieved a quintuple-double: Wilt Chamberlain, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, on March 18, 1968. Chamberlain's final stats for that game were reportedly 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals. However, it should be noted that the NBA did not officially count steals and blocks at the time, so this record is considered unofficial by some.
The likelihood of a player achieving a quintuple-double is considered very low, especially due to the rarity of double-digit steals and blocks in a single game. Double-digit steals have occurred less than 25 times in modern NBA history, with only two players ever recording 11 steals in a game. As for blocks, while they occur more frequently than steals, they still happen only once or twice a season. Therefore, the probability of a player achieving both in the same game is extremely slim.
Despite the unofficial nature of Chamberlain's quintuple-double, his performance is still recognized as an impressive feat. Chamberlain is considered one of the most dominant players in NBA history, holding numerous records that are considered difficult to break. His alleged quintuple-double only adds to his legacy, leading some basketball analysts and pundits to refer to the NBA record book as "The Autobiography of Wilt Chamberlain."
While it is possible that the modern, high-scoring nature of the NBA could lead to more ridiculous stat lines, many believe that the achievement of a quintuple-double is so historic that it may never be replicated. The modern game has stricter rules and different playing styles, making it challenging for players to accumulate such high numbers in all five statistical categories.
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Quadruple-double
A quadruple-double in basketball is an extremely rare feat, with only four players achieving this milestone in the history of the NBA. The feat involves accumulating double digits in four out of five statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots) in a single game.
Nate Thurmond was the first player to achieve this remarkable feat, recording 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals. Following Thurmond, only three other players have joined this exclusive club: Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson.
Alvin Robertson, a talented defender, recorded his quadruple-double with steals instead of blocks. His stat line included 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. Olajuwon, playing for the Houston Rockets, dominated with a similar stat line of 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, and 10 assists. David Robinson, the fourth and final player to achieve a quadruple-double, did so against the Detroit Pistons, contributing significantly to his team's victory with 71 points in the season finale.
Outside of the NBA, there have been a few other recorded quadruple-doubles. Lester Hudson recorded the first quadruple-double in NCAA Division I men's basketball history in 2007. In women's basketball, Veronica Pettry of Loyola-Chicago achieved the feat in 1989, and Shakyla Hill of Grambling State accomplished it in 2018 and 2019.
The quadruple-double is a testament to a player's all-around excellence and versatility, showcasing their ability to impact the game in multiple ways. While it may be rare, there are always promising players who could potentially join this exclusive club in the future.
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Players with the most triple-doubles
A triple-double in basketball is a rare feat where a player reaches double digits in three of the five main statistical categories in a single game. These categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Russell Westbrook holds the record for the most career triple-doubles in NBA history, with 202 as of May 10, 2021, when he surpassed Oscar Robertson's long-standing record of 181, which had stood since 1974. Westbrook also holds the record for most triple-doubles in a single season, with 42 in the 2016-17 season. Westbrook is one of only three players to average a triple-double over an entire season, along with Oscar Robertson and Nikola Jokić.
Nikola Jokić is another player with impressive triple-double achievements. He holds the record for the fastest triple-double, achieving this feat in just 14 minutes and 33 seconds on February 15, 2018. Jokić also set a new record for the most points in NBA history in a triple-double, scoring 61 points on April 1, 2025. Additionally, he is one of only three players to achieve a "double-triple-double," with 20 or more in three categories, scoring 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists.
Other notable players with triple-double achievements include Wilt Chamberlain, who achieved a double-triple-double with 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists; James Harden, who scored 60 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists; and Luka Dončić, who scored 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists. LeBron James also holds the record for most triple-doubles in the NBA Finals with 11, ahead of Magic Johnson (8) who holds the record for most triple-doubles in the playoffs with 30.
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Frequently asked questions
A triple-double is a basketball statistic for a player who, in one game, reaches double digits in three of the five main statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For example, a player might score 18 points, make 12 rebounds, and assist 10 shots.
Triple-doubles are a rare feat in basketball, with only a few players achieving this statistic. The NBA first started recording the triple-double statistic in the 1979-80 season. Russell Westbrook currently holds the record for the most career triple-doubles, notching 42 in the 2016-17 season.
A quadruple-double and a quintuple-double are even rarer achievements than a triple-double. A quadruple-double is when a player achieves double digits in four of the five statistical categories, while a quintuple-double is when a player achieves double digits in all five categories. Only four quadruple-doubles have ever been officially recorded in the NBA, and no quintuple-double has ever been recorded in a professional basketball game.
