The Triple Double is a basketball stat that has been around since 1961. It’s a rare feat that only a handful of NBA players have ever accomplished, and it’s even rarer than any of them have been able to do it twice.
That being said, a triple-double is a great accomplishment in basketball. Now, let’s get into the details of what is a triple double.
What Is A Triple Double?
In basketball, a triple-double is a single-game performance in which a player accumulates ten or more in three of the following five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots.
Key statistical categories that can be used to get a triple-double:
- Points
- Rebounds
- Assists
- Steals
- Blocked Shots
5 Craziest Triple Doubles in NBA History
Triple Double in Basketball Example
A triple double is a basketball stat that looks like this: 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The triple double is very rare because it requires a player to get a double double first.
There are many great examples of triple doubles in basketball but one of the most famous was when LeBron James scored 44 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists against the Toronto Raptors in 2010.
Who Has The Most Triple Doubles in NBA History?
Here is the list of the top 5 all-time triple-double leaders according to Basketball Reference:
- Oscar Robertson 181.
- Russell Westbrook 152.
- Magic Johnson 138.
- Jason Kidd 107.
- LeBron James 97
Keep in mind that Westbrook and James are still playing so their numbers will continue to increase. Also, Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain, who is #6 with 78, played in an era where blocked shots and steals were not recorded, so their numbers are most likely higher than what is shown here.
A triple-double is a rare achievement in basketball. Only 81 players in the NBA have ever accomplished one, and only 32 have done so more than once. The records for most triple-doubles in a career are five, by Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson; Kevin McHale is the only player to have recorded four triple-doubles in the same season.
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We’re interested in your opinion about triple-double statistics. Do you think an NBA player will ever get a quintuple-double? We’d love to hear from you, so please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Troy Wright
I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.
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