Triple-double

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. [Northeast Times, [http://www.northeasttimes.com/2004/0708/harvey.html Taking the shirt off his back] , accessed April 27, 2007.]

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. [Hal Brook, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20020428/ai_n10784766 Give an Assist to NBA] , The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 28, 2002.] 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.thebigo.com, [http://www.thebigo.com/News/triple-double-season.php Triple-Double Facts] , accessed February 27, 2008.] During the 1961-1962 season, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.basketball-reference.com, [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/roberos01.html Oscar Robertson Stats] , accessed February 24, 2008.]
*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. Wilt Chamberlain is in second place with 31 triple-doubles in the 1967-68 season.
*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. [msnbc.com, [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6846493 LeBron is youngest to notch triple-double] , accessed February 24, 2008.]
*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. [espn.com, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1673826 Malone is oldest to notch feat] , accessed February 24, 2008.]
*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. [home.swbell.net, [http://home.swbell.net/hartley4/quads.htm The Double Triple-Double] , accessed February 24, 2008.]
*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.Jeff Faraudo, [http://www.staugustine.com/stories/012608/sports_txt02_039.shtml Triple-Double Miscellany] , St. Augustine Record, January 26, 2008.]
*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.basketball-reference.com, [http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/pgl_finder.cgi Player Game Log Finder] , accessed February 27, 2008.] 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, 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
*Kevin Johnson, December 9, 1993, Phoenix vs. Washington — 17, 13, 10 [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199312090PHO.html PHO/WAS Box Score (1993-12-09)] ]
*Mookie Blaylock, April 14, 1998, Atlanta vs. Philadelphia — 14, 11, 10 [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199804140ATL.html ATL/PHI Box Score (1998-04-14)] ]

Points, rebounds, steals
*Larry Steele, November 16, 1974, Portland vs. L.A. Lakers — 12, 11, 10 [http://www.nba.com/media/blazers/05RecordsWeb.pdf Flirting With a Quad, pg. 15] ]
*Clyde Drexler, November 1, 1996, Houston vs. Sacramento — 25, 10, 10 [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199611010HOU.html HOU/SAC Box Score (1996-11-01)] ]
*Kendall Gill, April 3, 1999, New Jersey vs. Miami — 15, 10, 11 [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199904030NJN.html NJN/MIA Box Score (1999-04-03)] ]
*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
*Alvin Robertson achieved this in his quadruple-double. It is the only known NBA example of this triple-double combination.

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. [nba.com, [http://www.nba.com/draft2007/profiles/StephaneLasme.html Stephane Lasme Draft Profile] , accessed February 24, 2008.]
*Oscar Robertson, Andre Miller, and Dwyane Wade are the only players who have recorded triple-doubles in NCAA Tournament history. [nba.com, [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andre_miller/bio.html NBA.com: Andre Miller Bio] , accessed April 27, 2007.] [nba.com, [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dwyane_wade/bio.html NBA.com: Dwyane Wade Bio] , accessed April 27, 2007.]
* 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. [One-hit Wonders, [http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/06/one-hit-wonders/] ] [ Box score, [http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/020302aaa.html] ]

ee also

* Double-double
* Quadruple-double
* Five-by-Five

References

External links

* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/triple_doubles.html List of NBA triple-doubles since the 1986-87 season] at basketball-reference.com