What Is A Triple Double in the NBA?

A triple double is a statistical feat achieved by a player who accumulates a total of 10 or more points, rebounds, and assists in a game.

Definition of a Triple Double

In basketball, a triple double is when a player reaches double figures in three of the five main statistical categories in a game. The most well-known of these is points, but the others are rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. A player who achieves a triple double is said to have “gone off” or “filled up the stat sheet”.

The first ever recorded triple double in an NBA game was by Nate Thurmond of the San Francisco Warriors in 1962. Since then, there have only been 150 instances of players recording a triple double in an NBA regular season game. The most recent came from Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017.

While it is a very rare feat, it should be noted that triple doubles are more common in the modern NBA than they were in the past. This is due in large part to the increased pace of play as well as players being more specialized in specific roles. For example, a player who is focused on scoring points is more likely to rack up assists as well due to the number of possessions they will have with the ball.

Players who have recorded multiple triple doubles in their career are considered to be some of the best all-around players in the game today. Notable names include LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Jason Kidd, and Russell Westbrook.

Notable Triple Doubles in NBA History

In the NBA, a triple double is when a player reaches double figures in three of the five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. In a game where both teams are playing well and there are a lot of possessions, it can be very difficult for one player to stuff the stat sheet like this. That’s why triple doubles are so rare and so special.

In the 2017-2018 season, there were just 13 triple doubles recorded. The leader in triple doubles that season was Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who racked up an incredible 21. To put that into perspective, Westbrook had more triple doubles that season than the other 12 players combined!

Some of the most notable triple doubles in NBA history have been:
– Oscar Robertson (1961-1962 season): Averaged a triple double for an ENTIRE SEASON! He is still the only player to ever do this.
– Wilt Chamberlain (1968): Dropped an astonishing 42 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists in a game against the Lionel Hollins led Portland Trail Blazers.
– Magic Johnson (1981-1982): Arguably the best point guard ever had a string of 7 straight games with a triple double, which is still an NBA record.
– Michael Jordan (1989): In what was arguably the best statistical season for any player not named Oscar Robertson, MJ tallied 32.5 points per game to go along with 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game.

Why Triple Doubles Are So Important

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), a triple double is when a player records a double-digit total in three of five statistical categories in one game. The most common way to achieve a triple double is through points, rebounds, and assists, but it can also be done with other combinations such as points, blocks, and steals.

While it may not seem like much, a triple double is actually a very impressive feat and it regularly happens in just a handful of games each season. For example, in the 2015-2016 season there were just 16 games in which a player achieved a triple double. In contrast, there were 1282 games where a player scored 30 or more points.

So why are triple doubles so important? First, they are rare and thus impressive. Second, they demonstrate that a player is having an impact on the game in multiple ways and not just relying on one skill set. A player who can score 30 points in a game is obviously important, but a player who can also rack up 10 assists and 10 rebounds is even more valuable because they are impacting the game on both ends of the floor.

Ultimately, achieving a triple double is proof that a player is one of the best all-around players in the league and someone who can take over a game even when their scoring isn’t necessarily on par with their counterparts.

How to Get a Triple Double

In basketball, a triple double is when a player accumulates a total of 10 or more points, rebounds, and assists in a game. To get a triple double, a player must stuff the stat sheet; achieving 10 or more in any two categories isn’t enough. A player must dominate in three different statistical areas to be credited with a triple double.

Triple doubles have become more commonplace in recent years as players become more well-rounded and focused on filling up the stat sheet rather than just scoring points. Nevertheless, they are still considered rare and impressive feats. Some of the best players in NBA history—such as Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James—have recorded multiple triple doubles throughout their careers.

There have been several notable instances of players putting up huge triple-doubles:
In 2017, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder became only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of an entire season.
In 2014, Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics had a 28 point, 18 rebound, 13 assist game against the Toronto Raptors.
In 2009, Amar’e Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns had 42 points 15 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots against the Milwaukee Bucks.