I have finally decided to start answering some questions that people have been wanting to know about the sport of basketball. I have been getting a lot of questions about basketball and one of the questions that I will answer today will answer the question in regards to what a triple double is in basketball. I also wanted to highlight this question today because recently as I am currently writing this here today, the triple-double record was broken today by Russell Westbrook, which is huge in the world of basketball.
*note that this article was created in 2021*
Well before I go on to explain what a triple double is in basketball, maybe I should start off by explaining what a double double is in basketball. In basketball, a double-double is a single game performance where a player accumulates ten or more in a certain state of two of the following five statistical categories:
- Points
- Rebounds
- Assists
- Steals
- Blocks
If a player gets 10 or more in any two of these statistical categories in basketball, they have achieved a double double. Most players often get a double-double by scoring 10 or more points, with either double digit rebounds or assists. Centers are known to get the most double-doubles because of their role in rebounding the ball. It is a lot easier for centers to get double digit rebounds and points than any other position in basketball. The reason why I highlighted points, rebounds, and assists is because they are the most common statistical categories in which players achieve a double-double. Wilt Chamberlain currently holds the record for most career double-doubles in the NBA with 968.
Based on what you know now about what a double-double is, you can probably guess what a triple-double is. A triple-double is a single game performance where a player accumulates ten or more in three of the five statistical categories shown above. The most common statistical categories in which a player gets a triple double is points, rebounds, and assists. If a player reaches double figures in any of the three categories in one game, they have successfully achieved a triple-double. For example, if Russell Westbrook scores 21 points, has 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, he has a triple-double for that game.
Double-doubles are a lot more common in the game of basketball. There is also the much rare quadruple-double and the very unlikely, basically impossible quintuple-double. There have only been 5 recorded quadruple-doubles in NBA history. The truth is that no NBA player has ever accomplished a quintuple-double, but there have been players who have gotten close before. Most recently Draymond Green was the closest in 2017, but the player who has gotten the closest multiple times was Hakeem Olajuwon. Victor Wembenyama is currently seen as the most likely player to get a quadruple double next in the NBA.
The term “triple-double” first originated in the early 1980s when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson first entered the NBA. Triple-doubles did exist before the 80s, however, they were not recorded/tracked before the 80s. Oscar Robertson was known to be the master of the triple-double. He nearly averaged one in his career, while also averaging one in an NBA season. Oscar Robertson had 181 triple-doubles in his career, which was broken today by Russell Westbrook with 182. Westbrook will be known to be the triple double king for a very long time, and by breaking the record only at the age of 32, I imagine Westbrook can reach a number of triple-doubles that almost no one will ever get close to in a very long time.
Russell Westbrook not only set the record for most triple-doubles in a season, but he also averaged a triple-double for three whole years in a row between 2017-2019, and this season for the NBA season of 2021.
Ultimately, the triple-double stat is a great measurement tool for any basketball player as it shows the overall ability of the player. The triple-double trend is starting to become a thing as more and more players are starting to record them. Let’s hope that this trend continues as we continue to see the evolution of basketball for many years to come.
As years go on and the game evolves more, the triple double is becoming more and more common in the NBA with players like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic entering the league and getting them with ease. More NBA players are entering the league who impact the game in many ways we haven’t seen before.
Before you click off this article, if you have any interest in dunking or increasing your vertical in general, make sure to check out my article on Vert Shock, a vertical jump program designed to help you increase your vertical jump.
