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How do u get a triple double in basketball
What Is A Triple-Double In Basketball?
A triple-double is one of the most impressive feats that a player can accomplish on the court in a single game.
If you follow NBA basketball at all, you’ve probably heard the term “triple-double“ being thrown around.
Not sure what it means? Don’t worry, because that’s what we’re going to be explaining that today. And even if you’re already familiar with the definition, there will still be some interesting historical info as well as some fun facts for you to enjoy as well.
So, what exactly is a triple-double?
While they are definitely an impressive feat and, usually, the mark of an amazing game from a player who got one, triple-doubles themselves are simply a byproduct of good performance stats across the board.
A player earns a triple double in basketball if they accumulate a double-digit (10+) number total in three of five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a single game.
So what makes this stat quite interesting is that it can come about in different ways, depending on the categories which entered double figures. A point guard, for example, would find it easier to rack up points, assists, and steals in order to record a triple-double. Meanwhile, a big center would typically get one by scoring double figure points, rebounds and blocked shots.
The Five Statistical Categories Which Contribute Towards A Triple Double
To properly explain them, we need to cover the basics of basketball stats. There are five major stats that are tracked in every basketball game and league – points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. The stats themselves should be quite self-explanatory but the NBA did not adopt all of them at the same time.
Points are the oldest stats. Assists were first officially tracked during the 1946/47 season and rebounds were introduced as a major statistical category four seasons later. The two major defensive categories, blocks and steals, are the youngest since they were both officially introduced only during the 1973/74 season.
To get a triple-double, a player must simply record a double-digit (10 or more) number in any three major statistical categories he wants in a single game. Triple doubles weren’t even a thing in the NBA until LA media came up with the term to describe what Magic Johnson was often doing on the court in the 1980s.
What Is The Most Common Way To Get A Triple-Double?
The most common triple-double is going to include points, assists, and rebounds since those categories are usually easier to fill up than blocks or steals. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any triple-doubles that include other categories. For example, Hassan Whiteside has recorded four triple-doubles in his career and all of them have been a combination of points, rebounds, and blocks!
One player has even achieved a triple-double without points. That player is Draymond Green and his stat line of 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals against the Grizzlies back in February of 2017. His unique feat remains the only instance of such a triple-double in NBA history.
Is a triple-double the only “double” category?
In a word, no. You’ve probably heard the term “double-double” mentioned at least once. Whereas a triple-double requires double digits in any three major statistical categories in a single game, a double-double requires only two. That makes it a much more common feat and many players have averaged a double-double for an entire season.
There is also a “quadruple-double”, an extremely rare feat. It requires getting double digits in FOUR major statistical categories in a single game. Coincidentally, only four players in NBA history have ever achieved this feat. Their names are Nate Thurmond, Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson.
Finally, we do have the concept of the quintuple-double, though such a feat has only been witnessed in female high school basketball competitions. Now there are rumors that in the NBA, Wilt Chamberlain actually managed to record a quintuple double on March 18, 1968. However, because in those days no one was officially recording steals and blocks, there is no way of being sure this happened for certain. As such, we are still waiting for the first quintuple-double to grace an NBA game.
NBA Players With The Most Career Triple-Doubles of All-Time
Rank
Player Name
Triple-Doubles
1
Russell Westbrook
189
2
Oscar Robertson
181
3
Magic Johnson
138
4
Jason Kidd
107
5
Lebron James
99
6
Wilt Chamberlain
78
7
James Harden
62
8
Nikola Jokic
61
9
Larry Bird
59
10
Fat Lever
43
Source: Basketball Reference
Unlike other stats which are more focused on a specific area, the triple double leaderboard is filled with “all-rounders” who perform well in multiple aspects of a basketball game. That’s why you don’t see some big names like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant in the top 10, even though they are leaders when it comes to career points.
Why are triple-doubles so much more common in the NBA compared to other leagues?
Well, there are a few reasons for this. Compared to other basketball leagues, the NBA uses 12-minute quarters instead of 10 and there is much more emphasis on individual play in the NBA compared to the EuroLeague or some other foreign league.
However, triple-doubles used to be a very rare occurrence in the NBA as well and now someone seems to be getting one nearly every night. What changed? The answer – the speed of the game.
There’s a stat called “pace” which measures the number of possessions a team uses per game. The pace has been rapidly increasing for the last few seasons up to the point where we are seeing the fastest basketball in the last 20 years. The average pace for the 2019/20 season is 100.2, the highest it’s been since the 1988/89 season. With more possessions, players simply have more chances to put up stats.
Did anyone ever average a triple-double for an entire season?
Believe it or not, yes. And it wasn’t just one player, but two! The first player who averaged a triple-double was Oscar Robertson who did so in the 1961/62 season. He recorded an incredible 41 triple-doubles that season and no one thought this feat would ever be achieved again.
More than 50 years later, Russell Westbrook (at that time playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder) came out of nowhere to average a triple-double in 2016/17 and broke Robertson’s record with 42 triple-doubles in a single season. Of course, he was deservingly named the MVP for that season and he went on to average a triple-double for three consecutive seasons.
With how the game is played today, we are seeing more triple-doubles than ever. It is probably just a matter of time until a couple of new names join the exclusive list of players who managed to average a triple-double for a season.
What is a Triple-Double in Basketball - Why is it Special?
A triple-double is a statistical achievement by a basketball player when they get at least ten points in three of the five major statistical categories in a single game. The most popular triple-double categories are points, rebounds, and assists. However, a triple-double can also include steals and blocked shots. Here is the complete breakdown on what a triple-double is in basketball.
Why Is it Called a Triple-Double?
A triple-double refers to a basketball player receiving double digits in three statistical categories. The name comes as an evolution of the double-double. A double-double refers to receiving ten or more figures in two out of five categories, so the triple means one more than that.
To get points for a triple-double, a player doesn’t just have to shoot field goals. Three-pointers and free throws also count towards achieving a triple-double.
Is There Anything Greater than a Triple-Double in Basketball?
Basketball players can also get quadruple doubles and quintuple doubles if they get ten or more points in four or five statistics.
What are the Five Categories?
Points
Rebounds
Steals
Assists
Blocks
How Often Do NBA Players Get a Triple-Double?
During the 2020-2021 NBA season, 138 different active players earned a triple-double. Russell Westbrook had the most with 40, while Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets was a distant second with 17. That all-star performance helped him earn the MVP that year.
Draymond Green is the only player ever to achieve a triple-double without at least ten points. In 2017, Green collected 12 rebounds, ten assists, and ten steals against the Memphis Grizzlies. That stellar performance is one reason why he was Defensive Player of the Year that season.
How Often Do Triple-Doubles Occur in the WNBA?
While triple-doubles are common in the NBA, they’re less frequent in the WNBA. To date, there have only been about ten triple-doubles, with only two coming in the playoffs. Sheryl Swoopes and Courtney Vandersloot have the same number of triple-doubles in their careers and are tied at two. Swoopes and Vandersloot are also the only WNBA players with triple-doubles in playoff games.
Who Got the First Triple-Double in Basketball?
The first triple-double belongs to Andy Phillip. On December 14, 1950, Philadelphia Warriors player Andy Phillip played against the Fort Wayne Pacers during a basketball game to achieve the triple-double accomplishment. During the game, he scored 17 points and had ten rebounds and ten assists.
Who Was the Youngest Players to Record a Triple-Double?
LaMelo Ball is the youngest player to record a triple-double at the age of 19. LaMelo Ball had 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists to achieve the accomplishment.
What is the Fastest Triple-Double in the NBA History?
It took 14 minutes and 33 seconds for Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to record a triple-double. The accomplishment took place in 2018, and the game was against the Milwaukee Bucks. His final slash line was 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 17 assists.
Before Nikola Jokic, the previous fastest record was in 1955 by Jim Tucker, which took seventeen minutes.
Additional NBA Triple-Double History
As of October 2021, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook holds the record for the most triple-doubles with 184. The previous record-holder was Oscar Robertson, who had 181. Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Jason Kidd fill out the current top five players in career triple-doubles.
Magic Johnson also leads the league in post-season triple-doubles with 30. LeBron James comes in second in this statistic, while Westbrook is third. Westbrook also has the single-season record with 42 during the 2016-2017 season while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Similar Statistics
The five-in-five stat dictates that a player gets five or more in each of the five major basketball statistics, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the only players with six five-by-fives in his career. He’s also one of the few players to record a quadruple-double.
A quadruple-double and quintuple double are two statistics that function very similarly to the triple-double. The only players who have scored a quintuple double, or ten or more points in five statistical categories, are female high school players. These high school players to achieve this accomplishment are Tameka Catchings, Alex Montgomery, and Aimee Oertner.
There is a rumor that Wilt Chamberlain got the only NBA quintuple-double in 1968. This claim comes from estimates from reporter Harvey Pollack, who claimed Chamberlain had 53 points, 32 rebounds, 24 blocks, 14 assists, and 11 steals while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. At the time, NBA statisticians did not record steals and blocks during games, so this achievement is not official.
Conclusion: What is a Triple-Double in Basketball
In summary, a triple-double in basketball means that a player has (3) ten or more figures in three out of the five categories. Each time a basketball player achieves a triple-double, it’s cause for celebration. These stats show just how skilled and powerful players are becoming.
Now that players are starting to stand out as offensive powerhouses, we’ll surely see more triple-doubles and maybe even quadruple-doubles in the future. The evidence of more triple-doubles in the game is prevalent in stat websites like Statista, which show modern-day players have the most triple-doubles in NBA history.
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double | it's.
.. What is a triple-double? Triple-double two-digit number). Metrics can include points, steals, blocks, assists and rebounds. Example - 16 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds. The term was first used in NBA statistics to refer to Magic Johnson, the record holder for triple-doubles in the playoffs. The triple-double made testifies to the versatility of the playing qualities of the basketball player. The hardest part is scoring 10 steals - the all-time NBA record for steals in a single game is just 11, and from 19For 73 years, there were only 19 cases (on average once every 2 years) when basketball players made 10 or 11 interceptions. 10 block shots are also rare in the NBA - only about 130 cases in the last 36 years.
Contents
1 Types of triple-doubles
2 NBA record holders
2.1 Regular seasons
2.2 Play-off games
3 See also
Triple-doubles
There are 10 combinations of triple-doubles in total:
The most common combination is points-rebounds-assists . There are several dozen of these during the season in the NBA.
This is followed by points - rebounds - block shots . On average, such a triple-double recently happens 2 times per season in the NBA. Most often, such a triple-double was done by Dikembe Mutombo (10), Hakim Olajuwon (9) and David Robinson (9).
Variant 9 is very rare0003 points-passes-interceptions . Only 5 cases of such a triple-double are known (Lafayette Lever - 1985, Clyde Drexler - 1986, Kevin Johnson - 1993, Mookie Blaylock - 1998 and Alvin Robertson - 1986 as part of his quadruple-double)
An even rarer variant is points-rebounds-steals . 4 cases are known: Larry Steele - 1974, Clyde Drexler - 1996, Kendall Gill - 1999 and again Alvin Robertson - 1986 as part of a quadruple-double.
Points-transfers-blockshots . Only 3 cases are known, all within quadruple doubles (Nate Thurmond—1974, Hakim Olajuwon—1990 and David Robinson—1994)
Rebounds-assists-block shots . Same 3 Quad Doubles
Rebounds-passes-interceptions . Only Alvin Robertson, as part of his 1986 quadruple-double, made such a triple-double
Never recorded in the NBA 3 types of triple-doubles - points-steals-blocks , rebounds-steals-blocks and assists-steals-blocks
NBA record holders
Wilt Chamberlain - triple-doubled in 9 games in a row in 1968
Magic Johnson - 168 career triple-doubles in the NBA
history
The NBA record for triple-doubles in the regular season (181) is still held by Oscar Robertson, who retired back in 1974. In addition, Robertson is the only player in history to average a triple-double in a season. In season 1961-62, Oscar averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. In total, he made 41 triple-doubles that season (if Oscar spent only 1 this season in the NBA, he would have ranked 6th in the number of triple-doubles in history).
A record series of triple-doubles in a row was a success in 1968 for Wilt Chamberlain - 9 matches. He is the only one who managed to make a double-triple-double - score at least 20 points in 3 indicators. It happened on February 2, 1968 - 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists.
Since the 1985/1986 season, there have been only 8 cases in the NBA when there were 2 triple-doubles in one match: teammates succeeded twice and players from rival teams 6 times. Interestingly, in 5 out of 8 of these cases, one of the triple-doubles was on the account of Jason Kidd.
Playoff record (30) held by Magic Johnson. In the history of the NBA in the playoffs, only three have managed to record 10 or more triple-doubles - Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd (11) and Larry Bird (10).
Regular seasons
As of the start of the 2011/12 season. Selected players who continue their careers
No.
Player
Qty
Years
1
Oscar Robertson
181
1960-1974
2
Magic Johnson
138
1979-1996
3
Jason Kidd
107
1994—
4
Wilt Chamberlain
78
1959-1974
5
Larry Bird
59
1979-1992
6
Lafayette Lever
43
1982-1994
7
LeBron James
32
2003—
8
John Havlicek
30
1962-1978
9
Grant Hill
29
1994—
10
Michael Jordan
28
1984-2003
11
Clyde Drexler
25
1983-1998
12
Walt Frazier
23
1967-1980
Play-off games
As of the start of the 2010/11 season. Players Continuing their Career
No.
Player
Qty
Years
1
Magic Johnson
30
1979-1996
2
Jason Kidd
11
1994—
3
Larry Bird
10
1979-1992
4
Wilt Chamberlain
9
1959-1974
5
Oscar Robertson
8
1960-1974
6
LeBron James
6
2003—
-
Rajon Rondo
6
2006—
8
John Havlicek
5
1962-1978
9
Charles Barkley
4
1984-2000
-
Elgin Baylor
4
1958-1971
-
Tim Duncan
4
1997—
-
Walt Frazier
4
1967-1980
-
Scottie Pippen
4
1987-2004
See also
Double-double
Quadruple-double
List of the best scorers in NBA history
double | it's.
.. What is a triple-double? Triple-double two-digit number). Metrics can include points, steals, blocks, assists and rebounds. Example - 16 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds. The term was first used in NBA statistics to refer to Magic Johnson, the record holder for triple-doubles in the playoffs. The triple-double made testifies to the versatility of the playing qualities of the basketball player. The hardest part is scoring 10 steals - the all-time NBA record for steals in a single game is just 11, and from 19For 73 years, there were only 19 cases (on average once every 2 years) when basketball players made 10 or 11 interceptions. 10 block shots are also rare in the NBA - only about 130 cases in the last 36 years.
Contents
1 Types of triple-doubles
2 NBA record holders
2.1 Regular seasons
2.2 Play-off games
3 See also
Triple-doubles
There are 10 combinations of triple-doubles in total:
The most common combination is points-rebounds-assists . There are several dozen of these during the season in the NBA.
This is followed by points - rebounds - block shots . On average, such a triple-double recently happens 2 times per season in the NBA. Most often, such a triple-double was done by Dikembe Mutombo (10), Hakim Olajuwon (9) and David Robinson (9).
Variant 9 is very rare0003 points-passes-interceptions . Only 5 cases of such a triple-double are known (Lafayette Lever - 1985, Clyde Drexler - 1986, Kevin Johnson - 1993, Mookie Blaylock - 1998 and Alvin Robertson - 1986 as part of his quadruple-double)
An even rarer variant is points-rebounds-steals . 4 cases are known: Larry Steele - 1974, Clyde Drexler - 1996, Kendall Gill - 1999 and again Alvin Robertson - 1986 as part of a quadruple-double.
Points-transfers-blockshots . Only 3 cases are known, all within quadruple doubles (Nate Thurmond—1974, Hakim Olajuwon—1990 and David Robinson—1994)
Rebounds-assists-block shots . Same 3 Quad Doubles
Rebounds-passes-interceptions . Only Alvin Robertson, as part of his 1986 quadruple-double, made such a triple-double
Never recorded in the NBA 3 types of triple-doubles - points-steals-blocks , rebounds-steals-blocks and assists-steals-blocks
NBA record holders
Wilt Chamberlain - triple-doubled in 9 games in a row in 1968
Magic Johnson - 168 career triple-doubles in the NBA
history
The NBA record for triple-doubles in the regular season (181) is still held by Oscar Robertson, who retired back in 1974. In addition, Robertson is the only player in history to average a triple-double in a season. In season 1961-62, Oscar averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. In total, he made 41 triple-doubles that season (if Oscar spent only 1 this season in the NBA, he would have ranked 6th in the number of triple-doubles in history).
A record series of triple-doubles in a row was a success in 1968 for Wilt Chamberlain - 9 matches. He is the only one who managed to make a double-triple-double - score at least 20 points in 3 indicators. It happened on February 2, 1968 - 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists.
Since the 1985/1986 season, there have been only 8 cases in the NBA when there were 2 triple-doubles in one match: teammates succeeded twice and players from rival teams 6 times. Interestingly, in 5 out of 8 of these cases, one of the triple-doubles was on the account of Jason Kidd.
Playoff record (30) held by Magic Johnson. In the history of the NBA in the playoffs, only three have managed to record 10 or more triple-doubles - Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd (11) and Larry Bird (10).
Regular seasons
As of the start of the 2011/12 season. Selected players who continue their careers
That player is Draymond Green and his stat line of 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals against the Grizzlies back in February of 2017. His unique feat remains the only instance of such a triple-double in NBA history.
Now there are rumors that in the NBA, Wilt Chamberlain actually managed to record a quintuple double on March 18, 1968. However, because in those days no one was officially recording steals and blocks, there is no way of being sure this happened for certain. As such, we are still waiting for the first quintuple-double to grace an NBA game.
That’s why you don’t see some big names like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant in the top 10, even though they are leaders when it comes to career points.
With more possessions, players simply have more chances to put up stats.
Sheryl Swoopes and Courtney Vandersloot have the same number of triple-doubles in their careers and are tied at two. Swoopes and Vandersloot are also the only WNBA players with triple-doubles in playoff games.
At the time, NBA statisticians did not record steals and blocks during games, so this achievement is not official.
.. What is a triple-double? Triple-double two-digit number). Metrics can include points, steals, blocks, assists and rebounds. Example - 16 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds. The term was first used in NBA statistics to refer to Magic Johnson, the record holder for triple-doubles in the playoffs. The triple-double made testifies to the versatility of the playing qualities of the basketball player. The hardest part is scoring 10 steals - the all-time NBA record for steals in a single game is just 11, and from 19For 73 years, there were only 19 cases (on average once every 2 years) when basketball players made 10 or 11 interceptions. 10 block shots are also rare in the NBA - only about 130 cases in the last 36 years. 
There are several dozen of these during the season in the NBA. 
Same 3 Quad Doubles 
Players Continuing their Career 
.. What is a triple-double? Triple-double two-digit number). Metrics can include points, steals, blocks, assists and rebounds. Example - 16 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds. The term was first used in NBA statistics to refer to Magic Johnson, the record holder for triple-doubles in the playoffs. The triple-double made testifies to the versatility of the playing qualities of the basketball player. The hardest part is scoring 10 steals - the all-time NBA record for steals in a single game is just 11, and from 19For 73 years, there were only 19 cases (on average once every 2 years) when basketball players made 10 or 11 interceptions. 10 block shots are also rare in the NBA - only about 130 cases in the last 36 years. 
There are several dozen of these during the season in the NBA. 
Same 3 Quad Doubles 
