A triple-double is a basketball term, defined as an individual performance in a game in which a player accumulates double-digit totals (i.e., 10 or more) in any three of these categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. 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 term itself was coined by renowned Philadelphia 76ers statistical guru Harvey Pollack.[1]
A triple-double is seen as an indication of an excellent all-around individual performance. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), they are rare but not unheard-of, as the top players usually accumulate a little fewer than 10 in a season (out of a possible 82 games in the regular NBA season). At the collegiate level, however, they are exceptionally rare (though double-doubles are much more common). There are two reasons for this: the shot clock in men's college basketball is 35 seconds as opposed to 24 seconds in the NBA and college games last only 40 minutes instead of 48 in the NBA. Both timing issues considerably reduce the number of possessions in a game and thus the chances for amassing large numbers in any one statistic, much less all three. It should be noted that the criteria for an assist have been relaxed over time.[2] Triple-doubles are also exceptionally rare in games contested under FIBA rules, in which games also run for 40 minutes (albeit with a 24-second clock like that in the NBA).
NBA triple-double facts
- Averaging a triple-double over an entire season: Oscar Robertson is the only player in NBA history to achieve this feat.[3] During the 1961-1962 season, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.[4]
- All-time leader (regular season): Oscar Robertson is also the all-time leader with 181.
- All-time leader (playoffs): Magic Johnson is the all-time leader with 30.
- Most triple-doubles in a single season: Oscar Robertson holds another record with 41 triple-doubles in one season during the 1961-62 NBA season.[3] Wilt Chamberlain is in second place with 31 triple-doubles in the 1967-68 season.[5]
- Youngest player: LeBron James, aged 20 years and 20 days, logged a triple-double on January 19, 2005, versus the Portland Trail Blazers. He had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.[6]
- Oldest player: Karl Malone is the only 40-year-old player to do so, on November 28, 2003 with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists versus the San Antonio Spurs.[7]
- Double-triple-double: this feat requires at least 20 of any 3 statistics. Wilt Chamberlain is the only player to have accomplished this; in a February 2, 1968 game, Chamberlain's statistics were 22 points, 25 rebounds, and 21 assists.[8]
- Longest continuous streak: Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for the most consecutive triple-doubles. In 1968, from March 8 to March 20, he recorded a triple-double in nine straight games.[5]
- Triple-doubles by teammates in one regular season game: This feat of athleticism and teamwork was accomplished only twice since 1986-1987, by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (Chicago vs. L.A. Clippers) on January 3, 1989, and by Vince Carter and Jason Kidd (New Jersey vs. Washington) on April 7, 2007.[9] In total, it has occurred ten times in NBA history.
- Triple-doubles by opponents in a regular season game: This competitive spectacle occurred only six times since 1986-1987,[9] four times involving Jason Kidd (while playing for three different teams). Kidd accomplished it with Clyde Drexler twice (Dallas at Houston, April 11, 1995 and Phoenix at Houston, March 22, 1997), with Jay Williams (New Jersey at Chicago, November 9, 2002), and with Tracy McGrady (New Jersey vs. Orlando, February 23, 2003). In addition, the feat was performed by Gary Payton and Chris Webber (Seattle at Sacramento, April 18, 2000), and by Caron Butler and Baron Davis (Washington vs. Golden State, November 23, 2007). Other instances might be found in older records, especially considering the many contests between great rivals like Russell-Chamberlain and Bird-Magic.
NBA all-time triple-double leaders
Triple-doubles with double figures in steals or blocked shots
- Listed are known occurrences; others may exist.
Points, rebounds, blocks
- After the traditional points, rebounds, assists combination, this is by far the most common combination. It has occurred 46 times in the regular season in the last 22 years, for a ratio of more than 2 occurrences per season. Several players have achieved this feat multiple times.
- Dikembe Mutombo (ten games)
- Hakeem Olajuwon (nine games)
- David Robinson (nine times)
- Shawn Bradley (six games)
- Marcus Camby (three games)
- Ben Wallace (two games)
- Players with one occurrence: Mark Eaton, Manute Bol, Larry Nance, Benoit Benjamin, Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Andrei Kirilenko.
Points, assists, steals
- Fat Lever, March 9, 1985, Denver vs. Indiana - 13, 15, 10
- Clyde Drexler, January 10, 1986, Portland at Milwaukee — 26, 11, 10[12]
- Kevin Johnson, December 9, 1993, Phoenix vs. Washington — 17, 13, 10[13]
- Mookie Blaylock, April 14, 1998, Atlanta vs. Philadelphia — 14, 11, 10[14]
Points, rebounds, steals
- Larry Steele, November 16, 1974, Portland vs. L.A. Lakers — 12, 11, 10[12]
- Clyde Drexler, November 1, 1996, Houston vs. Sacramento — 25, 10, 10[15]
- Kendall Gill, April 3, 1999, New Jersey vs. Miami — 15, 10, 11[16]
- Alvin Robertson achieved this in his quadruple-double.
Points, assists, blocks
- This has happened twice in the last 22 NBA seasons, and at least three times in NBA history; all known occasions are in fact quadruple-doubles.
Rebounds, assists, blocks
- This has happened twice in the last 22 NBA seasons, and at least three times in NBA history; all known occasions are in fact quadruple-doubles.
Rebounds, assists, steals
Triple-double combinations that have not been achieved
- points, steals, blocks
- rebounds, steals, blocks
- assists, steals, blocks
NCAA triple-doubles
- Stephane Lasme (2007 at UMass), Jason Kidd (1994 at Cal) and Michael Anderson (1986 at Drexel) share the NCAA Division I record of four triple-doubles in a single season. While Kidd and Anderson accomplished the feat by achieving double figures in scoring, rebounds, and assists, Lasme's triple doubles are in scoring, rebounds, and blocks.[17]
- Oscar Robertson, Andre Miller, and Dwyane Wade are the only players who have recorded triple-doubles in NCAA Tournament history.[18][19]
- Kalara McFadyen of the Memphis Tigers achieved perhaps the most unique triple-double in history, without scoring a point or even attempting a shot. On February 3, 2002, in a women's Division I game against Charlotte, she had 12 assists, 10 steals, and 10 rebounds. [20][21]
See also
References
- ^ Northeast Times, Taking the shirt off his back, accessed April 27, 2007.
- ^ Hal Brook, Give an Assist to NBA, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 28, 2002.
- ^ a b thebigo.com, Triple-Double Facts, accessed February 27, 2008.
- ^ basketball-reference.com, Oscar Robertson Stats, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b Jeff Faraudo, Triple-Double Miscellany, St. Augustine Record, January 26, 2008.
- ^ msnbc.com, LeBron is youngest to notch triple-double, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ espn.com, Malone is oldest to notch feat, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ home.swbell.net, The Double Triple-Double, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b basketball-reference.com, Player Game Log Finder, accessed February 27, 2008.
- ^ David Moore, All-Time Triple-Double Leaders, Dallas Mourning News, December 9, 2006.
- ^ nbastats.prv.pl, All-Time Playoff Triple-Double Leaders, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b Flirting With a Quad, pg. 15
- ^ PHO/WAS Box Score (1993-12-09)
- ^ ATL/PHI Box Score (1998-04-14)
- ^ HOU/SAC Box Score (1996-11-01)
- ^ NJN/MIA Box Score (1999-04-03)
- ^ nba.com, Stephane Lasme Draft Profile, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ nba.com, NBA.com: Andre Miller Bio, accessed April 27, 2007.
- ^ nba.com, NBA.com: Dwyane Wade Bio, accessed April 27, 2007.
- ^ One-hit Wonders, [1]
- ^ Box score, [2]
External links
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