Ayrton Oneill
A triple-double is a highly sought-after achievement in basketball, where a player reaches double-digit stats in three out of five 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. It is considered a measure of a well-rounded player and is increasingly common in the modern NBA due to the faster pace of games and the positionless nature of play.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An instance in which a player accumulates a total of 10 or more in three statistical categories |
| Statistical categories | Points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals |
| Common combinations | Points, rebounds, assists |
| Reflection | A player's all-around contribution and influence on the game |
| Notable players | Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Alyssa Thomas, Jessica Shepard, Julie Allemand, Karl-Anthony Towns, LaMelo Ball |
| Increase in occurrence | Due to the increased pace of the modern NBA and the positionless nature of the game |
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What You'll Learn
Triple-double definition
In basketball, a triple-double is a highly celebrated individual achievement by a player. It occurs when a player records double-digit numbers (10 or more) in three different statistical categories during a single game.
There are five major individual stats in basketball: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. A triple-double is achieved when a player has double-digit stats (at least 10) in any three of these five major statistical categories. For example, a player can score 18 points, make 12 rebounds, and assist 10 shots. It is considered a significant achievement because it indicates that the player has been contributing heavily to all aspects of the game. It is a reflection of a player's all-around contribution and influence on the game.
Triple-doubles are becoming more common in the NBA due to two main reasons. Firstly, the pace of the standard NBA game has increased, resulting in more possessions per team and, consequently, more opportunities to achieve higher stats. Secondly, the modern NBA is positionless, allowing players to put up stats not commonly associated with their positions.
While triple-doubles are impressive, an even rarer feat is achieving a quadruple-double, where a player scores at least 10 in four statistical categories.
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Triple-double history
The triple-double is a highly regarded statistic in basketball. It occurs when a player scores ten or more in three of the five major statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots.
The triple-double became an official NBA statistic during the 1979-80 season. The first triple-double was recorded by Andy Phillip of the Philadelphia Warriors in a 1950 game against the Fort Wayne Pistons. Phillip scored 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Oscar Robertson, nicknamed "The Big O", is considered the "king" of triple-doubles. He averaged a triple-double over the course of the 1961/62 season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. This feat had not been achieved before in NBA history. Robertson finished his career with 181 total triple-doubles.
Russell Westbrook, formerly of the Oklahoma City Thunder, surpassed Robertson's record on May 10, 2021, by recording his 182nd triple-double. As of the 2024-25 season, Westbrook has recorded 202 triple-doubles, the most in NBA history. Westbrook also holds the record for most triple-doubles in a single season, with 42 in 2016-17, and most consecutive games with a triple-double, with 11 straight. Westbrook is one of only three players in NBA history to average a triple-double over a single season, along with Robertson and Nikola Jokić.
Other notable triple-double records include:
- James Harden holds the record for most points scored in a triple-double, with 60 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
- LeBron James has recorded 99 triple-doubles in the regular season and 28 in the playoffs.
- Luka Dončić holds the record for the fewest minutes in a 30-point triple-double, scoring 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in just 25 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Larry Kenon and Kendall Gill share the record for most steals in a triple-double, with 11 each.
- Nikola Jokić holds the record for the fastest triple-double, achieving the feat in 14 minutes and 33 seconds.
- Nikola Jokić and Russell Westbrook were the first pair of teammates to record triple-doubles in the NBA Finals.
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Notable triple-double players
Russell Westbrook is the current holder of the most career triple-doubles in the NBA, with 182, later updated to 202. Westbrook also holds the record for most triple-doubles in a single regular season, achieving 42 in 2016-17, and the most consecutive games with a triple-double, with 11 straight from 22 January to 14 February 2019. Westbrook is one of only two players to average a triple-double over a single season, the other being Oscar Robertson, who held the record for most career triple-doubles before Westbrook. Robertson ended his career with 181 triple-doubles.
Magic Johnson holds the record for the highest number of triple-doubles in the postseason with 30. LeBron James is close behind with 28 triple-doubles in the playoffs, 11 of which were in the NBA Finals, giving him the Finals record over Magic Johnson (8) and Draymond Green (3).
Nikola Jokic holds the record for the fastest triple-double, achieving the feat 14 minutes and 33 seconds into a 2018 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jokic also holds the record for most points in a triple-double, with 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 2025 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Other notable triple-double players include James Harden, Luka Dončić, Larry Kenon, Kendall Gill, Wilt Chamberlain, Dwyane Wade, Ben Uzoh, and Wilbur Holland. Harden is first in the standings for most points scored in a triple-double, with 60 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in 2018. Dončić holds the record for fewest minutes in a 30-point triple-double, scoring 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists while playing for just 25 minutes and 30 seconds. Kenon and Gill share the record for most steals in a triple-double, with 11 each. Chamberlain holds the record for career double-doubles, with 968, and is sixth in the regular-season record for triple-doubles. Wade is one of the only players to have achieved a triple-double in their final career game, logging 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 2019. Uzoh and Holland are the other two players to have achieved this feat.
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Quadruple-double
A quadruple-double in basketball is an extremely rare achievement, where a player records double-digit figures in four out of five major statistical categories in a single game. These categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. To achieve a quadruple-double, a player must reach 10 or more in any combination of four of these categories.
Only four players in NBA history have ever officially recorded a quadruple-double. The first was Nate Thurmond of the Chicago Bulls, who achieved this feat on October 18, 1974, with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. The other three players to accomplish this are Alvin Robertson in 1986 (20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals), Hakeem Olajuwon in 1990 (18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 blocks), and David Robinson in 1994 (34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks).
Several other players have come close to achieving a quadruple-double, including Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama. While these players fell short in one or two categories, their performances were still remarkable.
The quadruple-double is a testament to a player's versatility and all-around excellence, showcasing their ability to contribute significantly in multiple aspects of the game. It is one of the most challenging feats to achieve in basketball and sports in general.
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Achieving a triple-double
A triple-double is a highly sought-after achievement in basketball, where a player reaches double-digit stats in three out of five 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, achieving a triple-double. While it is not necessary to score in the steals and blocks categories, it is still an impressive feat to achieve a triple-double in any combination of categories.
The first "double" in triple-double refers to achieving double-digit stats in two categories, and the second "double" refers to the double-digit number itself—ten or more points, rebounds, steals, etc. This achievement showcases a player's well-roundedness and versatility on the court.
Some notable players who have achieved impressive triple-double milestones include Russell Westbrook, who holds the record for the most career triple-doubles, and Oscar Robertson, who was the first player to average a triple-double over an entire season. Other notable mentions include Magic Johnson, James Harden, LeBron James, and Luka Dončić, who have all achieved impressive triple-double feats.
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Frequently asked questions
A triple-double is achieved when a player scores 10 or more in three of the five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Triple-doubles used to be rare in the NBA, but they have become more common in recent years due to the increased pace of the game and the positionless nature of modern NBA games.
Russell Westbrook currently holds the record for the most career triple-doubles in the NBA.
