The term ‘quintuple double’ is relatively new in the world of basketball, and it refers to a single player achieving five different statistical feats in a single game. While it’s a rare achievement, it has been accomplished by some of the all-time greatest players, making it one of the most impressive accomplishments in the sport.
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History of the Quintuple Double
The quintuple double first became a recognized statistic in 1988, when the NBA began to keep track of blocks and steals. Before that, it was impossible to track the five different stats needed to achieve a quintuple double. The first player to officially record a quintuple double was Nate Thurmond, who achieved the feat in 1974 by recording 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, 12 blocks, and 11 steals.
The Most Notable Quintuple Doubles
The most notable quintuple double was achieved by Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon in 1990. In a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Olajuwon scored 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks, and 10 steals. The game is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history.
More recently, Russell Westbrook became the first player since Olajuwon to record a quintuple double in 2017. In a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 steals, and 10 blocks. Westbrook’s accomplishment was even more impressive considering he did it in only 35 minutes of playing time, making it the fastest quintuple double in NBA history.
How Rare is a Quintuple Double?
In spite of the impressive feats by Olajuwon and Westbrook, the quintuple double is still an incredibly rare feat. Since the NBA began tracking blocks and steals, only two players have been able to accomplish the feat.
The quintuple double is still rare in the college game as well. Only three players have achieved the feat in NCAA Division I basketball, and it hasn’t been done since 1993.
The Records that Need to be Broken
In order to record a quintuple double, a player must achieve five different statistical feats in a single game. The five categories that need to be accomplished are points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
The record for most points in a quintuple double is held by Olajuwon, who scored 18 points in the game against the Bucks. The record for most rebounds is held by Thurmond, who grabbed 14 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons in 1974. The record for most assists is held by Westbrook, who dished out 11 assists in his quintuple double against the Lakers. The record for most blocks is also held by Olajuwon, who blocked 11 shots against the Bucks. Finally, the record for most steals is held by Westbrook, who had 10 steals against the Lakers.
Conclusion
The quintuple double is one of the rarest and most impressive feats in basketball. It requires a player to achieve five different statistical feats in a single game, which is no easy accomplishment. While the feat has only been achieved by a handful of players, it is a testament to the skill and talent of those who have managed to achieve it.