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What is a triple-double in basketball?

By Ian Levy

March 8, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 8, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The triple-double is one of the most impressive stat lines a player can put up. What does it mean and who has the most in NBA, WNBA and NCAA history?

The triple-double is like a bald eagle or a gray wolf — rarely seen, always breathtaking and accompanied by the weight of myth, legend and history.

Double-doubles are fairly common but the triple-double appears far less frequently. However, a new breed of versatile players across all leagues has made this feat far more common and every week it seems like a new triple-double record is getting broken somewhere.

What is a triple-double?

In a basketball game, a triple-double is when a player achieves double-digits (at least 10) in at least three different statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. A double-double is when a player achieves double-digits in two categories.

The vast majority of triple-doubles come with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as those stats are much easier to accumulate than blocks or steals.

Has there ever been a quadruple-double?

A quadruple-double has happened just four times in official NBA history. Nate Thurmond was the first to achieve it, back in 1974. Alvin Robertson was the first and only player to achieve a quadruple-double that included 10 steals. Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson have also achieved this feat.

Has anyone ever averaged a triple-double for a full season?

Incredibly, yes! For more than 50 years, Oscar Robertson was the first and only player to have achieved this, averaging in 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game in 1961-62 for the Cincinnati Royals. Russell Westbrook joined him in 2016-17 and then proceeded to do it three more times in the next four seasons. They are still the only players to average a triple-double for a full season and Westbrook is the only player to do it more than once.

Who has the most triple-doubles in NBA history?

As you would expect, Westbrook and Robertson have a stranglehold on the triple-double leaderboards for a career and single-season. But plenty of other NBA legends famous for their versatility appear as well, particularly if we look at postseason numbers.

Most triple-doubles in an NBA season:

  1. Russell Westbrook — 42 (2016-17)
  2. Oscar Robertson — 41 (1961-62)
  3. Russell Westbrook — 38 (2020-21)
  4. Russell Westbrook — 34 (2016-17)
  5. Wilt Chamberlain — 31 (1967-68)

Most triple-doubles in an NBA career:

  1. Russell Westbrook — 198
  2. Oscar Robertson — 181
  3. Magic Johnson — 138
  4. LeBron James — 107
  5. Jason Kidd — 107

Most postseason triple-doubles in an NBA career:

  1. Magic Johnson — 30
  2. LeBron James — 28
  3. Nikola Jokic — 16
  4. Russell Westbrook — 12
  5. Jason Kidd — 11

Who has the most triple-doubles in WNBA history?

Triple-doubles are much rarer in the WNBA, mostly because games last only 40 minutes, leaving less time to accumulate points, rebounds and assists. There have only been 19 triple-doubles in WNBA regular-season history and more than half of them have come from just three players.

  1. Alyssa Thomas — 5
  2. Sabrina Ionescu — 4
  3. Candace Parker — 3
  4. Seven other players (tie) — 1

Who has the most triple-doubles in men’s NCAA basketball history?

  1. Kyle Collinsworth — 12
  2. Michael Anderson, Shaquille O’Neal (tie) — 6
  3. Shawn James, Kevin Roberson, Brian Shaw (tie) — 5

Who has the most triple-doubles in women’s NCAA basketball history?

  1. Sabrina Ionescu — 28
  2. Caitlin Clark — 11
  3. Chastadie Barrs — 9
  4. Suzie McConnell, Louella Tomlinson (tie) —7

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