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A triple double is a statistic in basketball where the player scores in the double digits in 3 of the following categories in a single game: points, rebounds, assists, blocks or steals. It is one of the most coveted stats in basketball, and the most common way in which to score one is by achieving 10 or more points, rebounds and assists.

History[]

The triple double was first officially recorded in the 1979–80 NBA season, in which 32 triple doubles were recorded. The number of triple doubles would increase throughout the next decade, a fact that may be primarily attributed to Magic Johnson, as the league averaged over 45 per season from 1981 to 1991.

Boom in the number of triple doubles in the 2010s[]

The triple double remained a rare statistic reserved for the most versatile players, as the NBA would average just slightly over 35 triple doubles from the 1991-1992 season to the the 2014-2015 season. However, the number of triple doubles drastically increased in the 2015-2016 season, from 46 to 75. The next two years saw the league record well over 100 triple doubles per season, with a massive contribution from Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple double in both these seasons, becoming the first person to do so since Oscar Robertson.

Warriors player Draymond Green also broke a triple double record on February 10, 2017, becoming the first player to record a triple double without points, recording 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals and 4 points.

In more recent, the triple double has been recorded more and more, which can be attributed to the the increase in pace and focus on offence over defence, making it easier to achieve points and assists.