A triple double in basketball happens when a player records at least 10 in three of the five main statistical categories during one game. Those categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, according to ESPN.
Most triple doubles come from points, rebounds, and assists, but any combination of three categories counts. The achievement has become one of basketball’s clearest measures of all-around production.
In This Article
What is a triple double in basketball?
A triple double means reaching double figures in three statistical categories in the same game. A player does not need exactly 10 in each category. Any total of 10 or more qualifies.
For example, all of these would be triple doubles:
- 24 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists
- 15 points, 10 assists, 12 steals
- 18 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks
Points, rebounds, and assists are by far the most common combination. Under Armour notes that the five categories used to determine a triple double are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
A player can also finish with more than three categories in double figures. Reaching 10 or more in four categories is called a quadruple double.
How triple doubles are counted
There is no special scoring formula for a triple double. The player’s normal box-score statistics are simply checked after or during the game.
A typical triple double might look like this:
|
Statistic |
Total |
|
Points |
27 |
|
Rebounds |
13 |
|
Assists |
11 |
|
Steals |
2 |
|
Blocks |
1 |
Because three categories reach double digits, the performance qualifies.
Ten points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists would not count. A player must reach at least 10 in all three qualifying categories.
Triple doubles can also be recorded in both regular-season and playoff games, although those records are normally listed separately.
History of the triple double
Triple doubles existed before the term became a familiar part of basketball language. Basketball-Reference tracks known performances back to the 1950-51 season, when rebounds became an official NBA statistic, while noting that the NBA did not formally track triple doubles as a category until much later.
Oscar Robertson became the early standard for the achievement. In the 1961-62 season with the Cincinnati Royals, he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game, becoming the first player to average a triple double across an entire NBA season.
Magic Johnson later helped make the statistic more prominent during the 1980s. His ability to score, rebound, and create shots for teammates showed how a player could influence several parts of a game at once.
The achievement entered another era with Russell Westbrook. In 2016-17, Westbrook averaged a triple double for the season and recorded an NBA-record 42 triple doubles, breaking Robertson’s previous single-season mark of 41.
Who has the most triple doubles?
Russell Westbrook holds the NBA regular-season career record for triple doubles. He finished his career with 209 triple doubles, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The leading regular-season totals include:
|
Player |
Career triple doubles |
|
Russell Westbrook |
209 |
|
Nikola Jokić |
198 |
|
Oscar Robertson |
181 |
|
Magic Johnson |
138 |
|
LeBron James |
125 |
|
Jason Kidd |
107 |
Basketball-Reference reports the same leading totals.
The playoff record is different. Magic Johnson remains the career postseason leader with 30 triple doubles, ahead of LeBron James and Nikola Jokić.
Because active players can add to their totals, career rankings should always be treated as time-sensitive.
Why triple doubles matter
A triple double usually shows that a player contributed in several areas instead of depending on one skill.
Scoring measures direct offensive production. Rebounds can end an opponent’s possession or create another opportunity for the offense. Assists show a player’s ability to create scoring chances for teammates.
That is why many triple doubles are associated with versatile guards, forwards, and playmaking centers. Modern offenses also give more players responsibility for handling the ball and initiating plays instead of assigning those jobs only to traditional point guards.
Under Armour identifies positionless basketball, increased floor spacing, pace, and broader playmaking responsibilities as factors that have helped triple doubles become more common.
Still, a triple double does not automatically mean a player had a perfect game. Shooting efficiency, turnovers, defensive mistakes, score margin, and game situation also affect how valuable a performance was.
Famous triple double records
Several records show how the statistic has changed across NBA history.
Russell Westbrook’s 42 triple doubles in 2016-17 remain the single-season record. Robertson ranks next with 41 in 1961-62. Basketball-Reference also lists multiple later seasons in which Westbrook and Nikola Jokić recorded more than 30.
Westbrook also passed Robertson for the career regular-season record in 2021 when he recorded his 182nd triple double. Robertson’s mark of 181 had stood for decades.
These records show why the triple double has become closely connected with players who combine scoring, rebounding, and playmaking at an elite level.
Triple double FAQs
What is the easiest triple double?
The most common triple double is points, rebounds, and assists. These statistics occur much more frequently in large totals than steals or blocks.
Is 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists a triple double?
Yes. Recording at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists qualifies as a triple double.
What is a double double?
A double double means recording at least 10 in two major statistical categories during one game. For example, 20 points and 12 rebounds would qualify.
Who has the most NBA triple doubles?
Russell Westbrook holds the NBA regular-season career record with 209 known triple doubles. Nikola Jokić is among the closest challengers based on current 2026 records.
Conclusion
The Triple Double in Basketball: Definition, History & Impact comes down to all-around production. By reaching double figures in three statistical categories, a player demonstrates an ability to affect several parts of a game rather than just one.
