If you’ve watched any level of basketball, particularly high school, college, or NBA, you’ve probably heard the term “triple-double”.
But what does it mean? Is it a statistic? Achievement? What stats are involved, if any?
What is a triple-double in basketball? A triple double is when a player reaches double digits in 3 of the 5 major statistical categories in one game. That means the player must have 3 of the major 5 stats reach at least 10 to be awarded a triple-double.
The 5 major statistical categories that are used for a triple-double (and other achievements) are:
- Points
- Rebounds
- Assists
- Steals
- Blocked Shots
Reaching double digits in 3 of the above 5 stat categories during one game would qualify as a triple-double.
It does not matter which 3 stat categories are achieved, as long as it’s 3 of them.
The most common stats used in reaching a triple-double are: Points, Rebounds, and Assists.
Achieving 10 steals or 10 blocked shots in one game is very rare. Reaching 10 points or rebounds or steals is far more common and obtainable.
Why is it called a triple double?
The reason it’s called a “triple-double” is due to the number of stat categories and digits needed for each stat. A simpler way to put it is this:
Triple = 3 stat categories needed
Double = double digits reached in each category
Therefore, having a number in the single digits would not qualify, such as 9 rebounds or 8 assists.
Basically, a triple-double means the basketball player reached double digits in 3 of the 5 main statistical categories.
Now let’s look at some examples of a triple-double.
What is an example of a triple-double?
As stated, the most common way to achieve it is through these 3 stat categories. Points, Rebounds, and Assists.
Reaching double-digit steals and blocked shots in a basketball game is extremely rare but has happened several times.
Below are some common stat lines that are also triple-doubles:
- 20 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 4 steals, 1 blocked shot
- 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocked shots
- 12 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 10 blocked shots
Reach double digits (10) in 3 of any of the 5 categories to be awarded a triple-double.
Getting a triple-double has become far more common than ever before. The main reason is due to today’s athlete is more athletic an all around player than in previous eras.
Today you see point guards that can also play shooting guard or small forward.
Or small forwards and power forwards who can handle the ball well like a guard. And even better, there’s plenty of “big men” centers in the NBA now that pass the ball very well. Thus, increasing their assist totals.
Centers today have more assists than ever before. The game has changed to a higher tempo, faced paced game where everyone on the court needs to have the ability to handle the ball.
Fewer players today have less skills than previous eras. More players have more tools and athletic ability.
Nikola Jokic is a prime example of a “big man” power forward/center who can handle the basketball well. In the 2020 – 2021 season, Jokic averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. 8 assists for a center/power forward! That was unheard of in previous eras.
Who has the most triple doubles in NBA history?
Current NBA players are quickly rising on the list of players to record a triple-double in NBA history.
As of January 2022, Russell Westbrook is the all-time triple-double leader with 193.
In fact, Westbrook is basically a triple-double machine. Having averaged a triple-double in an astonishing 4 straight seasons from 2016/2017 – 2020/2021.
In the 2016/2017 NBA season, Westbrook was the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson back in 1961/1962.
Westbrook has averaged a triple-double each season since.
Nearly half of the top 20 all-time leaders of games with a triple-double are current NBA players. In bold are current NBA players.
Top 20 All-Time Triple-Double Leaders in NBA History
- Russell Westbrook 193
- Oscar Robertson 181
- Magic Johnson 138
- Jason Kidd 107
- Lebron James 102
- Wilt Chamberlain 78
- James Harden 65
- Nikola Jokic 64
- Larry Bird 59
- Fat Lever 43
- Luka Doncic 39
- Bob Cousy 33
- Rajon Rondo 32
- Ben Simmons 32
- John Havlicek 31
- Draymond Green 31
- Grant Hill 29
- Michael Jordan 28
- Giannis Antetokounmpo 27
- Elgin Baylor 26
What’s interesting about the list is the top 4 are point guards, but after that, there are a lot of other positions.
Forwards and Centers are on the list such as: Lebron James, Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It goes to show how the game is changing.
That more NBA players today are well-rounded with more ball-handling skills.
Another interesting thing to take notice of on this list is the foreign players and their skills.
Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are all from overseas.
European Basketball is known to have players who can do multiple things; particularly being able to score, rebound, and pass. It’s evident by this list, that it’s true.
How rare or common is a triple double?
I discussed how common triple-doubles are now more than ever before and their relation to today’s NBA players. And not just NBA, the number of triple-doubles is increasing at all levels.
When I was growing up, triple-doubles were rare.
It was big news on Sportscenter when a player reached a triple-double in a game.
Today, however, it’s not highly touted when it happens. It’s more so mentioned because it’s common. Take a look at the chart below.
The number of triple-doubles in a season has steadily increased the last 10 years. That number has skyrocketed the last 5 seasons by going over 100 each year.
To put it into contrast, 10 years ago in the 2011-2012 has just 18 triple doubles. 2020-2021 saw 142!
As Russell Westbrook averages a triple-double per season for the last 4 seasons, the NBA saw over 100 triple doubles the last 5 seasons.
Westbrook did play a huge role in those numbers, but so did so many more players than ever before.
Needless to say, it’s evident that the triple-double is common now whereas just 10 years ago, it was rare.
And as I stated earlier, there are several reasons why. I firmly believe the reasons below are the main reasons for the jump in triple-doubles.
Reasons for the rise of the triple-double:
- Increase in pace
- More “triple-double” skilled players
- Small ball lineups/less “big-men”
- More three-pointers with assisted shots
- Increased “stat-padding”
Russell Westbrook has been blasted on several occasions for “stat-padding”.
What that means is trying too hard for certain stats. There’s video evidence of him getting in the way of his own players to get a rebound.
Or being a “ball hog” by not passing to an open player to instead get himself points. An also for passing way too many times in hopes of an assist.
See if you think this was a form of padding stats:
And we’re not the only one who thinks this. Colin Cowherd sees the same thing:
The rest of the 4 reasons for increased triple-doubles is a combination of how today’s NBA game is played and how many more skilled players there are. Scoring is at an all-time high. There’s less focus on defense and more focus on fast-paced scoring. Which in turn increases the likelihood of players reaching triple-double stats.
On top of that, the three-pointer is more popular and common than ever before. Each year players and teams are shattering records for three-point attempts and field goals.
The Golden State Warriors are known for their three-point-making ability and their pass-first style of play. If you watch a Warriors game, they are constantly moving the ball around and looking for the open three.
They are also not a team stacked with “big-men” but instead a number of players who can do multiple things.
One, in particular, is Draymond Green. Green is not known as a scorer, but a player who can do everything, including stellar defense and basketball IQ. Draymond Green is the only player ever to record a triple-double without at least 10 points. In 2017, Green had 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals in one game. Proof of why his was awarded Defensive Player of the Year that season.
What is a quadruple double? Or a quintuple-double?
Even with the increase in triple-doubles, quadruple-doubles have not increased. They are still extremely rare. A quadruple-double is when a player reaches double digits in 4 of the 5 major statistical categories in one game.
There have only ever been 4 official quadruple-doubles in NBA history.
- Nate Thurmond 1974: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, 12 blocked shots
- Alvin Robertson 1986: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals
- Hakeen Olajuwon 1990: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocked shots, 10 assists
- David Robinson 1994: 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocked shots
If I had to make a pick for the next player to reach a quadruple-double, I’d pick Giannis Antetokounmpo due to his ability to also block shots on top of everything else.
A quintuple-double has never been recorded in the NBA. So far it’s only known to have been achieved in female high school basketball.
What is a quadruple-hobble?
This is kind of a joke, but you will hear the term around Russell Westbrook a lot. Westbrook is known to be a turnover machine as much as he is a triple-double machine.
A quadruple-hobble is when a player reaches 10 turnovers on top of reaching a real triple-double. It’s not a true stat, but more a joke on a player for recording 10 turnovers.
What is a triple double conclusion
The main thing to know in counting triple-doubles, or double-doubles, and so on, is the main stats used. Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, and Blocked Shots.
A triple-double is when a player reaches double digits, or 10, in 3 of those 4 stat categories in one game.
That’s it. Any combination of 3 within the 5 main stats, and getting to double-digits in each of them is achieving a triple-double.
If you watch one week of basketball, or one night with a full schedule, chances are you will witness one.
Focus on any of the current 9 NBA players on the top 20 list above and you’re almost guaranteed to see one.