Double-double

Inbasketball, adouble-doubleis a single-game performance in which a player accumulates ten or more in two of the following five statistical categories:points,rebounds,assists,steals, andblocked shots. The first "double" in the term refers to the two (double) categories and the second "double" refers to accumulating ten or more (typicallydoubledigits) in that category. Similarly, a player records atriple-double,quadruple-double, andquintuple-doublewhen accumulating ten or more in three, four, or all five of the statistical categories, respectively. While double-doubles and triple-doubles occur regularly eachNBAseason, only four quadruple-doubles have ever officially been recorded in the NBA,and no quintuple-double has ever been recorded in a professional basketball game. A similar term, thefive-by-five, is the accumulation of at least five in all five statistical categories. It is rarely done.
Adouble-doubleis a performance in which a player accumulates a double-digit total in two of five statistical categories—points,rebounds,assists,steals, andblocked shots—in a game. The most common double-double combination is points and rebounds, followed by points and assists.During the2008–09NBA season, 69 players who were eligible for leadership in the main statistical categories recorded at least ten double-doubles during the season.
Since the1983–84season,Tim Duncanleads theNational Basketball Association(NBA) in the points–rebounds combination with 841 double-doubles,John Stocktonleads the points–assists combination with 714, andRussell Westbrookleads the rebounds–assists combinations with 142. Since the1983–84season,Tim Duncanalso holds the record for most total career double-doubles in the NBA, having recorded 841. In league history, the record for most career double-doubles is 968, held byWilt Chamberlain.
Special double-doubles are rare. One such achievement is sometimes called a20–20,double double-double, ordouble-20, when a player accumulates 20 or more in two statistics in a game.Another similar feat is a30–30.The only player in NBA history to record a40–40isWilt Chamberlain, who achieved the feat eight times in his career, four of which were in his rookie season.
Atriple-doubleis a single-game performance by a player who accumulates a double-digit number total in three of five statistical categories—points,rebounds,assists,steals, andblocked shots—in a game. The most common way for a player to achieve a triple-double is with points, rebounds, and assists, though on occasion players may record 10 or more steals or blocked shots in a game.The origin of the term "triple-double" is unclear. Some sources claim that it was coined in the NBA by formerLos Angeles Lakerspublic relations director Bruce Jolesch in the 1980s in order to showcaseMagic Johnson's versatility,while others claim that it was coined by thenPhiladelphia 76ersmedia relations directorHarvey Pollackin 1980.The earliest known appearances of the phrase in print come from October 1980 issues of theLos Angeles Times,although, as early as 1974,Bob Ryanwrote inThe Boston Globethat "John Havlicekjust missed a triple double-figure night."
The triple-double became an officially recorded statistic in theNBAduring the1979–80 season. That season, there were 32 triple-doubles, 12 more than the previous season.From the1979–80to the1990–91 seasons, the NBA recorded a total of 543 triple-doubles, or 45.25 triple-doubles per season. This can be largely attributed toMagic Johnson, who was responsible for 137 of this time-span's triple-doubles, or about 25.23% of them.After Johnson retired in 1991, the number of triple-doubles in the league declined. From the1991–92to the2014–15 seasons, there were only 841 triple-doubles, or about 35.04 triple-doubles per season.Jason Kiddrecorded the most triple-doubles in this timespan with 107, which was 68 more than second placedLeBron James.However, in the2015–16 season, the number of triple-doubles recorded in the NBA grew from 46 to 75.From the2016–17to the2018–19 season, the NBA recorded 352 triple doubles, which was approximately 117.33 triple-doubles per season. Over those three years,Russell Westbrookrecorded 101 triple-doubles—28.69% of all triple-doubles in that timespan.
During the 2017 NBA season on February 10, 2017,WarriorsforwardDraymond Greenbecame the first player in NBA history to achieve a triple double without scoring 10 points. Green had 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals and 4 points while contributing to his team's victory over theMemphis Grizzlies122-107.
There has been occasional controversy surrounding triple-doubles made when a player achieves the feat with a late rebound. Players with nine rebounds in a game have sometimes been accused of deliberately missing a shot late in the game in order to recover the rebound. One such case involved a player shooting at his own team's basket. On March 16, 2003, theCleveland Cavalierswere up 120–95 against theUtah Jazzwith four seconds left in the fourth quarter. Following an inbounded ball, Cavaliers guardRicky Davisshot the ball off his own team's basket to secure the final rebound for a triple-double.The move was criticized by players, coaches, and the media.To deter this, NBA rules allow rebounds to be nullified if the shot is determined not to be a legitimate scoring attempt.
Russell Westbrookholds the NBA record for career triple-doubles with 202. He andOscar Robertsonare the only two players to average a triple-double over a season, with Robertson achieving the feat once and Westbrook achieving the feat four times.Magic Johnsonholds the playoff record for career triple-doubles with 30.
Triple-doubles have been far rarer in theWNBAthan in the NBA; the games are shorter in the WNBA (40 minutes vs 48), there are fewer games (fewer teams) in a season (40 vs 82), and the playing style in the WNBA is more of a team game than relying on star players. As of the2024 season, 34 triple-doubles have been recorded in the WNBA.Candace Parkeris in third place with three.Sabrina Ionescuis in second place with four andAlyssa Thomashas the all-time record at fifteen.
Alyssa Thomasscored the third overall playoff triple-double and firstWNBA Finalstriple-double on September 15, 2022 against theLas Vegas Aces,and the fourth the following game on September 18. Thomas recorded four of her career triple-doubles in the2022 season, and her fifth through eleventh in the2023 season.
On June 12, 2022 in aNew York Libertygame, Ionescu became the fourth and youngest WNBA player to achieve multiple triple doubles in a career, while also being the first to both achieve a triple double in three quarters and register at least 12 of each statistic for the triple double.
In June 2022, Parker became both the first person to reach three triple doubles overall, as well as achieve two or more triple doubles in the same season.
On July 6, 2024,Caitlin Clarkbecame the first rookie to record a triple double in the WNBA, as well as the first player to record a triple double against the team with the best record in the WNBA.
The following is a list of all WNBA triple-doubles, with the playoff triple-doubles highlighted initalics.Boldnumbers indicate the statistic relevant to the triple double.
Much like the WNBA, there are a few reasons why triple-doubles are far more rare in theEuroLeaguethan in the NBA. The games are 40 minutes long — 8 minutes shorter than in the NBA — there are 34 games in a season compared to the NBA's 82, and various rules — such as those on assists — are stricter than that of the NBA.As of2024, only eight triple-doubles have been recorded in EuroLeague history,and only four in the modern era of Euroleague basketball (since2000).The following is a list of all eight of these triple-doubles:
Aquadruple-doubleis a single-game performance by a player who accumulates ten or more in four of five statistical categories—points,rebounds,assists,steals, andblocked shots—in a game. This feat is extremely rare: only four players have officially recorded a quadruple-double inNational Basketball Association(NBA) history.The first American male player above the high school level to officially record a quadruple-double wasNate Thurmond, who achieved this feat in 1974 while playing for the NBA'sChicago Bulls. The first American female player above the high school level to officially record a quadruple-double wasAnn Meyers, who achieved this feat in 1978 while playing for theUCLA Bruins, when women's college sports were under the auspices of theAIAW.
The first male player in NCAA Division I history to record a quadruple-double wasLester Hudsonin 2007.The first Division I women's player to have officially recorded a quadruple-double since the NCAA began sponsoring women's sports in 1981–82 was Veronica Pettry ofLoyola–Chicagoin 1989. Only three other women have done so since, and the only player to have recorded a quadruple-double since 1993 isShakyla HillofGrambling State, who accomplished the feat in 2018 and 2019. An earlier player, Jackie Spencer ofLouisville, accomplished the feat againstCincinnatiduring the 1984–85 season, but the NCAA did not record assists and steals throughout Division I women's basketball at that time. TheMetro Conference, then home to both schools, did officially record these statistics, but the NCAA did not start doing so until 1985–86 for assists and 1987–88 for steals.
Quadruple-doubles have only been possible since the1973–74 season, when the NBA started recording both blocked shots and steals. It is often speculated by observers that other all-time greats, namelyOscar Robertson(second in all-time triple-doubles with 181, behind Russell Westbrook),Wilt Chamberlain,Bill Russell, andJerry Westcould conceivably have had quadruple-doubles.West's biography at NBA.com claims that he once recorded an unofficial quadruple-double with 44 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks.A biography ofWilt Chamberlainclaims that he also recorded an unofficial quadruple-double in Game 1 of the 1967 Eastern Division Finals against theBoston Celtics, when he had 24 points, 32 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks.
The four players listed below are the only players who have officially recorded a quadruple-double in an NBA game. Save Thurmond, who retired before the award was established in 1983, all of them have wonNBA Defensive Player of the Yearat least once. Alvin Robertson is the only player who was not acenterto accomplish the feat, doing so withstealsrather thanblocks.
Only seven other players (Drexler did it twice) have managed to finish with triple-doubles and a total of 9 in a fourth statistical category (statistical categories in which they fell short are in bold):
Notes
Notes
Aquintuple-doubleis a single-game performance by a player who accumulates double-digits in all five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a single game.There are only five known officially recorded quintuple-doubles, all done at the girls' high-school level. The first was recorded byTamika CatchingsofDuncanville High School(Duncanville, Texas) with 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in 1997.The second was byAlex MontgomeryofLincoln High School(Tacoma, Washington), who had 27 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks in January 2007.The third was by Aimee Oertner ofNorthern Lehigh High School(Slatington, Pennsylvania), who had 26 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 11 blocks on January 7, 2012.On February 23, 2024, Kieonna Christmas ofFonda-Fultonville High School(Fonda, New York), had 11 points, 20 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks.The most recent is Kira Reynolds ofSouth Bend Washington High School(South Bend, Indiana), recorded 14 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals, and 10 blocks on January 6, 2025.
Wilt Chamberlainallegedly recorded a quintuple-double on March 18, 1968 with 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals. However, before 1974, prior to Chamberlain's retirement, steals and blocks were not officially recorded by theNBA. StatisticianHarvey Pollack, who spectated the game, reported that Chamberlain might have had more than one quintuple-double.
As of January 2023, there is no overlap between the 14 players who have recorded 10+ steals in an NBA game and the 36 players who have recorded 10+ blocks in a game; in other words, no NBA player's career-high stat line is a quintuple-double.The best single-game career high in blocks for a player with a game of 10+ steals is 5 by Draymond Green,and the best single-game career high in steals for a player with a game of 10+ blocks is 8 (Andrei Kirilenkoand Hakeem Olajuwon).
Afive-by-fiveis a performance in which a player accumulates a total of five in five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks—in a single game.Statistics for steals and blocks were not kept in the NBA until the 1973–74 season, so all NBA five-by-fives are known only from that season onward.Hakeem Olajuwon(six times),Andrei Kirilenko(three times), andVictor Wembanyama(two times) are the only players to have recorded multiple five-by-fives (based on records since the1984–85season).Olajuwon and Kirilenko are also the only players to record six-by-fives (at least six in all five statistical categories).Only twice has a five-by-five coincided with a triple-double (both by Olajuwon, one of which was 1 assist shy of a quadruple-double) and only three times has a player recorded a five-by-five without registering at least a double-double (two by Kirilenko and one byMarcus Camby).
All facts based on data since the1985–86season: