A triple-double is when one player reaches 10 or more in three of the five main box score categories in a single game: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. The usual version is at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It is a quick way to say that a player helped his team in several different ways on the same night.
A triple-double means 10 or more in three of these five stats in one game: points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Russell Westbrook holds the NBA record with 209 regular-season triple-doubles, ahead of Nikola Jokic with 198 (as of October 2026).
What counts as a triple-double
The five categories that can count are the standard box score stats. A player needs double figures, meaning 10 or more, in any three of them:
- Points
- Rebounds, offensive and defensive added together (see what is a rebound)
- Assists (see what counts as an assist)
- Steals (see what is a steal)
- Blocks (see blocked shots explained)
Three simple rules decide it:
- It has to happen in one game. Numbers from different games are never added together.
- Exactly 10 is enough. Nine is not, no matter how big the other two numbers are.
- Turnovers, fouls and minutes do not count, even though they also show up in the box score.
Here is how that looks with four made-up stat lines:
| Stat line | Triple-double? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 24 PTS, 11 REB, 10 AST | Yes | 10 or more in points, rebounds and assists |
| 31 PTS, 15 REB, 9 AST | No | Only two categories reach 10, so it is a double-double |
| 12 PTS, 10 REB, 10 BLK | Yes | Blocks count just like assists |
| 10 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST | Yes | The bare minimum still counts |
The common types
Points, rebounds and assists
This is the classic triple-double and by far the most common one. It usually comes from a guard who crashes the glass or a big man who runs the offense. Point guards like Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook built their records this way, and so did Nikola Jokic, a center who passes like a point guard.
Triple-doubles with steals or blocks
Ten steals or ten blocks in one game is very rare, so triple-doubles that use those stats happen far less often. When they do, it is usually a shot-blocking center with points, rebounds and blocks. Keep in mind that the NBA only started recording steals and blocks in the 1973-74 season, so some older games may hide triple-doubles that were never counted.
Double-double vs triple-double vs quadruple-double
The same idea scales up. The more categories a player reaches 10 in, the rarer the game. Our guide to the double-double covers the most common version in more detail.
| Term | What it needs | How often in the NBA |
|---|---|---|
| Double-double | 10+ in two categories | Several times on most game nights |
| Triple-double | 10+ in three categories | A big night; the best all-around players get dozens a season |
| Quadruple-double | 10+ in four categories | Only four officially recorded |
| Quintuple-double | 10+ in all five | Never officially recorded |
The four official quadruple-doubles belong to Nate Thurmond (1974), Alvin Robertson (1986), Hakeem Olajuwon (1990) and David Robinson (1994). Alvin Robertson is the only one who did it with steals instead of blocks.
NBA career triple-double leaders
These are the regular-season leaders entering the 2026-27 season.
| Rank | Player | Triple-doubles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russell Westbrook | 209 |
| 2 | Nikola Jokic | 198 |
| 3 | Oscar Robertson | 181 |
| 4 | Magic Johnson | 138 |
| 5 | LeBron James | 125 |
| 6 | Jason Kidd | 107 |
Oscar Robertson held the record with 181 for decades until Westbrook passed him in May 2021. Jokic moved past Robertson into second place in February 2026. In the playoffs, which are counted separately, Magic Johnson leads with 30.
Averaging a triple-double for a whole season
Getting one triple-double is a good night. Averaging one over a full season, meaning at least 10 points, rebounds and assists per game, has been done only seven times by three players:
| Season | Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-62 | Oscar Robertson | 30.8 | 12.5 | 11.4 |
| 2016-17 | Russell Westbrook | 31.6 | 10.7 | 10.4 |
| 2017-18 | Russell Westbrook | 25.4 | 10.1 | 10.3 |
| 2018-19 | Russell Westbrook | 22.9 | 11.1 | 10.7 |
| 2020-21 | Russell Westbrook | 22.2 | 11.5 | 11.7 |
| 2024-25 | Nikola Jokic | 29.6 | 12.7 | 10.2 |
| 2025-26 | Nikola Jokic | 27.7 | 12.9 | 10.7 |
Westbrook also owns the single-season record with 42 triple-doubles in 2016-17, and the longest streak, 11 games in a row in early 2019.
The rarest versions: 20-20-20 and 30-20-20
A few games go far past the 10-10-10 line. Wilt Chamberlain had 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists in February 1968. Westbrook matched the 20-20-20 feat with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 21 assists in April 2019. In March 2025, Jokic put up 31 points, 21 rebounds and 22 assists against Phoenix, the first 30-20-20 game in NBA history.
Why triple-doubles matter, and what they miss
A triple-double tells you a player did several jobs at once: scored, finished defensive possessions with rebounds and created shots for teammates. That is why the stat is tied to all-around stars, and why it gets so much attention on broadcasts.
It is still only a count. It does not show how efficiently a player scored, how many turnovers he had or how well he defended. A 10-10-10 night on poor shooting can help a team less than an efficient 25-point game. To judge the scoring side, look at shooting efficiency next to the counting stats.
Keep learning
- What is a double-double in basketball?
- What is an assist in basketball?
- Basketball positions explained: roles from 1 to 5
FAQ
Does a triple-double have to include points?
No. Any three of the five categories count, so 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks would qualify. In practice almost every triple-double includes points, because scoring 10 is far easier than getting 10 steals or 10 blocks.
Do playoff triple-doubles count toward the career record?
No. The NBA keeps regular-season and playoff totals separate. Westbrook leads the regular-season list, while Magic Johnson leads the playoff list with 30.
Has anyone ever had a quintuple-double?
Not officially. A quintuple-double would mean 10 or more in all five categories, and no NBA player has a recorded one. Stories exist about older games, but steals and blocks were not tracked before the 1973-74 season, so they cannot be confirmed.
Sources
- Basketball-Reference: Career Leaders and Records for Triple-Doubles
- NBA.com: Most triple-doubles in NBA history
- Basketball-Reference: Nikola Jokic Stats
- NBA.com: Nikola Jokic averages a triple-double for the season
- NBA.com: The NBA’s first recorded quadruple-double