Kristian Ferrell
In basketball, a triple-double is a highly sought-after achievement, where a player scores double-digit figures 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. A triple-double is a testament to a player's skill and versatility, and while it has become more common in recent years, it remains a significant feat in the world of basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A triple double occurs when a basketball player scores in double digits in three out of five statistical categories in a single game. |
| Statistical categories | Points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. |
| Most common form | Points, rebounds, and assists. |
| Other forms | Points, rebounds, and blocks; points, rebounds, and steals; etc. |
| Record for most career triple-doubles | Russell Westbrook |
| Record for most points in a triple-double | Nikola Jokic (61 points) |
| Record for most triple-doubles in the postseason | Magic Johnson (30) |
| Record for most points scored in a triple-double | James Harden (60 points) |
| Record for fewest minutes in a 30-point triple-double | Luka Dončić (25 minutes and 30 seconds) |
| Record for most steals in a triple-double | Larry Kenon and Kendall Gill (11 steals) |
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What You'll Learn
Triple-double definition
A triple-double in basketball is a highly acclaimed feat in which a player achieves double-digit scores in three out of five statistical categories in a single game. These categories include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. For instance, a player can achieve a triple-double by scoring 18 points, making 12 rebounds, and assisting 10 shots.
The concept of a triple-double emerged around 1980, with the term being coined by Harvey Pollack and Bruce Jolesch, associated with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. The NBA officially recognised the triple-double statistic during the 1979-80 season. Over the years, the occurrence of triple-doubles has increased, with experts attributing this rise to the increased pace of games and the positionless nature of modern NBA games.
The distinction of achieving a triple-double is held by some of the most renowned basketball players. Russell Westbrook, for instance, holds the record for the most career triple-doubles. Other notable mentions include Magic Johnson, James Harden, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Larry Kenon.
While a triple-double is an impressive achievement, some critics argue that it is an overrated measure of talent and performance. Nevertheless, the pursuit of a triple-double serves as a benchmark for players to showcase their versatility and well-rounded skills on the court.
In addition to the triple-double, there are also double-doubles (double digits in two categories) and the rarer quadruple-doubles (double digits in four categories) and quintuple-doubles (double digits in all five categories). These distinctions further highlight the exceptional performance and versatility of basketball players.
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Triple-double leaders
A triple-double in basketball is a highly coveted achievement, 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. While steals and blocks are included in the criteria, most triple-doubles feature a combination of points, rebounds, and assists.
The NBA first started recording triple-doubles in the 1979-80 season, and since then, several players have made their mark as triple-double leaders. Russell Westbrook currently holds the record for the most career triple-doubles, surpassing Oscar Robertson's long-standing record on May 10, 2021. Westbrook also holds several other triple-double records, including the most triple-doubles in a single regular season (42 in 2016-17), the most triple-doubles in road games in a single season (17), and the most consecutive games with a triple-double (11 straight games).
Other notable triple-double leaders include Nikola Jokić, who achieved a unique feat by recording a 61-point triple-double, setting a new record for the most points in an NBA triple-double. Jokić also became the first player to score at least 30 points while having 20 or more rebounds and 20 assists. Additionally, Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks holds the record for the fewest minutes in a 30-point triple-double, achieving this feat in just 25 minutes and 30 seconds of play.
Some other players who have achieved triple-doubles are LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Jamal Murray, and Magic Johnson, who holds the record for the most triple-doubles in the playoffs. The occurrence of triple-doubles has increased in recent years, with experts attributing this to the increased pace of the game and the positionless nature of modern NBA play.
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Double-double
In basketball, a double-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates double-digit figures in two of the five main statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. For example, a player might score 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The most common double-double combinations are points and rebounds, followed by points and assists. During the 2008–09 NBA season, 69 players recorded at least ten double-doubles. Since the 1983–84 season, Tim Duncan leads the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the points–rebounds combination with 841 double-doubles, John Stockton leads the points–assists combination with 714, and Russell Westbrook leads the rebounds–assists combinations with 142.
The occurrence of double-doubles and triple-doubles has become more frequent in contemporary basketball. Some experts attribute this to the faster pace of the modern game, which results in a higher number of possessions and, consequently, more opportunities to achieve these statistical milestones. Others suggest that the positionless nature of the modern game may also be a contributing factor.
While double-doubles are commendable, they are more common than triple-doubles. A triple-double is considered a "benchmark of virtuoso versatility" and is achieved when a player reaches double digits in three of the five statistical categories. For example, a player might score 18 points, make 12 rebounds, and assist 10 shots. Most triple-doubles consist of some combination of points, rebounds, and assists, but other combinations are possible, albeit rarer.
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Quadruple-double
A quadruple-double in basketball is a rare statistical achievement. It occurs when a player reaches double digits in any combination of four out of five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. For example, a player might score 10 points, make 10 rebounds, assist 10 shots, and have 10 steals.
The quadruple-double is an impressive feat, demonstrating a player's versatility and all-around mastery of the game. It requires a high level of skill in both offensive and defensive play. To date, there have only been four officially recorded quadruple-doubles in the NBA since the 1973-74 season when the league started tracking these statistics.
The quadruple-double is even more remarkable than the triple-double, which is itself an impressive achievement. A triple-double occurs when a player reaches double digits in three out of the five main statistical categories. While the quadruple-double is extremely rare, the triple-double has become more common in recent years, with some experts attributing this to the increased pace of modern NBA games, which provides more opportunities for players to accumulate statistics.
The most recent recorded quadruple-double was achieved by David Robinson in 1994. Some argue that Tim Duncan should also be credited with a quadruple-double in the 2003 Finals, as he fell just short of the required number of blocks to reach the milestone.
The quadruple-double is a testament to a player's ability to impact the game in multiple ways and is considered one of the most challenging achievements in basketball.
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Quintuple-double
A triple-double in basketball is a highly sought-after achievement, attained when a player reaches double digits in three out of five statistical categories in a single game. These categories include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. A triple-double is considered a "benchmark of virtuoso versatility" and is a testament to a player's all-around skill and impact on the game.
Now, let's move on to the quintuple-double, an even rarer feat. A quintuple-double occurs when a player reaches double digits in all five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. This means that a player must accumulate at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in a single game, which is an incredibly challenging task.
In the history of the NBA, there has never been an officially recorded quintuple-double. The only player reportedly achieving this remarkable feat is Wilt Chamberlain, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers against the LA Lakers on March 18, 1968. Chamberlain's alleged quintuple-double is considered unofficial because the NBA did not track steals and blocks as statistics at the time. According to statisticians, his impressive stat line included 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals.
The likelihood of a player achieving a quintuple-double in today's game is extremely low. Double-digit steals and blocks in a single game are incredibly rare occurrences. The all-time NBA record for steals in a game is 11, which has only happened twice. As for blocks, the official record for a team is 23, demonstrating how challenging it is for an individual player to reach double digits.
While the evolution of the game and the increase in pace have made triple-doubles more common, the quintuple-double remains an elusive achievement. Chamberlain's legendary performance in 1968 still stands as the only quintuple-double in NBA history, whether official or unofficial.
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Frequently asked questions
A triple-double in basketball occurs when a player scores ten or more in three of the five main statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Triple-doubles are considered a significant achievement in basketball, with only a few players attaining this feat. The number of triple-doubles has increased in recent years, with 30 recorded in 1990-2011 and 108 in 2018.
Russell Westbrook holds the record for the most career triple-doubles. Other notable players with many triple-doubles include Magic Johnson, James Harden, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Oscar Robertson.
