Thanks to Russell Westbrook and a handful of other NBA stars over the last 15 years, the triple-double has been a hot topic of discussion amongst fans and media members. Many will argue that recording a triple-double is not conducive to winning and has no direct impact on the outcome of a game or winning an NBA championship. Heck, Russell Westbrook has the most triple-doubles in NBA history and has never won an NBA championship.
Others will argue that it is impossible to record a triple-double and not have it affect a team’s performance in any single game. As an offensive player specifically, recording a triple-double means you not only got yourself and the team going with scoring, but you got your team involved as well. Today, we will take a look at some of the greatest players in NBA history and where they rank all-time in triple-doubles recorded. Does the same narrative around triple-doubles with Westbrook ring true for the rest of the top 20? As we make our way through the list, the trend is undeniable.
These are the 20 NBA players who have recorded the most triple-doubles in history.
20. Michael Jordan – 28 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG
It may surprise some that His Airness cracks the top 20 for triple-doubles recorded throughout his career. The negative stigma of Jordan being a ball hog and a selfish player is still being held onto by a few uninformed fans sprinkled throughout the community. At his peak, Jordan was a player who averaged 5.0 to 6.0 APG, which in itself is not the makings of a selfish basketball player. His best season as a playmaker, and one in which he played some point guard, Jordan averaged 8.0 APG and dished out over 500 assists for the first of two times in his career.
Another thing prohibiting Jordan from recording more triple-doubles is the emphasis on big men in the paint during his era. Jordan still managed to average 6.0 RPG or better eight times in his career in a time when the paint was as clogged as ever. Of course, the 10-time scoring champion never had an issue putting the ball in the basket. Jordan’s style of play seemed to work, I would venture to say, considering he would go down as the greatest basketball player of all time with six NBA championships, five MVPS, and six Finals MVPs to his name.
19. Grant Hill – 29 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 16.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The fact Grant Hill sits ahead of Michael Jordan on the all-time triple-doubles list is remarkable, considering how short his prime was. Hill came into the NBA in 1994-95 with the Pistons and would immediately become an All-Star forward who was like a Swiss Army knife on the court. Hill excelled at a bit of everything and averaged 19.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 5.0 APG as a rookie. The next three seasons would be All-Star seasons for Hill as well as he averaged 20.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 7.0 APG, once again showing his versatility as a player.
Through all of this, Detroit repeatedly failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs led by Hill. In 2000, Hill would have one of his best seasons yet, averaging 25.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 5.2 APG for the 42-40 Pistons. However, Hill would suffer a lower leg injury that would cost him the majority of the playoffs as well as 78 games the following season. Over the next few years, Hill’s injury issues would continue even as he became an All-Star again with the Orlando Magic. Hill would never be able to cash in on an NBA championship but was robbed of a true prime in his career.
T17. John Havlicek – 31 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
John Havlicek played his entire career with the Boston Celtics from 1963 thru 1978. He won eight NBA championships with them over that time as one of the better two-way players in the game. Over his first four seasons, Havlicek saw just under 30.0 minutes per game on the court. He averaged 17.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG during this stretch as Boston went on to win four NBA championships.
In 1968 and 1969, Havlicek opened up his game and became much more of an all-around threat. He averaged 21.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 5.0 APG over those two seasons as the Celtics went on to win back-to-back championships. Over the next nine seasons, Havlicek and the Celtics would win two more NBA championships, with Havlicek grabbing a Finals MVP in 1974. Over his last nine seasons, Havlicek averaged 21.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 5.8 APG and earned 13 All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA Team selections in his career.
T17. Draymond Green – 31 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 8.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Draymond Green is one of the most versatile players in NBA history. He has been the unsung hero of four NBA championship teams in his 11-year career with the Golden State Warriors, making an impact as an all-time great defender and playmaker. Green can take control of both sides of the court, especially on the defensive side, where he is more like the conductor of an orchestra rather than a power forward.
On offense, the offense can be run through him on the perimeter or on the inside as the all-time great shooters around him work to get open. As a rebounder, he has averaged under 6.0 RPG just three times in 11 seasons but has not averaged more than 8.5 PPG since 2018. Green has been a huge part of the machine they built in Golden State that has won more championships than any other team over the last decade.
T15. Rajon Rondo – 32 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 9.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
There was a time during the 2000s when Rajon Rondo was considered one of the better two-way perimeter players in the NBA. As a playmaker, he was as elite as it gets winning three career assists titles and totaling five seasons with at least 10.0 APG. Rondo was one of the key pieces to the late 2000s Celtics as he averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 1.7 SPG during their 2008 NBA championship run.
His best stretch as a player came from 2010 thru 2015 with the Celtics, Mavericks, and Kings. During this time, he averaged 11.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 10.4 APG. Rondo would add another championship in 2020 with the Lakers as he appeared in 16 games off the bench for them, averaging 8.9 PPG and 6.6 APG. During his 16-year career, he earned four All-Star selections, one All-NBA Team selection, and four All-Defensive Team selections.
T15. Domantas Sabonis – 32 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 15.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Something tells me that Domantas Sabonis is going to finish his career much further up this list. The versatile big man with the Kings has entered his peak as a player and is a threat from every spot and in every position on the court. Over his first three seasons with the Thunder and Pacers, Sabonis saw the court mostly off the bench, only earning 24 starts between his second and third seasons. During this time, he averaged 10.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.9 APG.
The next two seasons would be All-Star campaigns for Sabonis as he opened up his game to include a little bit of everything. He averaged 19.4 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and 5.8 APG over those two seasons with the Pacers. In 2022, Sabonis was traded to the Kings, and his addition has proved to be a big one to their lineup. Since arriving in Sacramento, Sabonis has averaged 19.1 PPG, 12.4 RPG, and 7.0 APG in 93 games. In 2022-23, Sabonis was an All-Star once again and led the NBA in rebounding with 12.4 RPG while putting in 19.2 PPG and dishing out 7.3 APG, a career-high.
T13. Bob Cousy – 33 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Fadeaway World
Career Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG
Bob Cousy was known as The Houdini of the Hardwood for his innovative and flashy style of play. Cousy was easily the best passer and playmaker of his era during the 50s and 60s with the Boston Celtics as he helped lead them to six of their 11 championships with Bill Russell. During his career, Cousy led the NBA in assists for eight straight seasons from 1953 thru 1960, dishing out 8.1 APG over that stretch of play.
Cousy was also a decent scorer from the point guard position during his career. Cousy recorded four separate seasons of at least 20.0 PPG and 10 seasons with at least 18.0 PPG. The knock on Cousy’s game will always be his efficiency considering he never shot 40.0% in a season from the floor in his career. He made up for it by how much he improved Boston’s offense by constantly keeping others involved.
T13. Ben Simmons – 33 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Wendell Cruz/USA Today Sports
Career Stats: 14.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Coming into the NBA, Ben Simmons was labeled as the next Lebron James due to his size and ability to do everything on the court at an elite level. Although it hasn’t exactly unfolded that way, it hasn’t all been bad when it comes to Ben Simmons. After missing his entire first season with a foot injury, Simmons cruised to a Rookie of the Year award with 15.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 8.2 APG.
Simmons would follow up his Rookie of the Year performance with three straight All-Star appearances with the Sixers from 2019 thru 2021. Over these three seasons, Simmons would average 16.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 7.6 APG. He excelled as a playmaker and defender especially, making the 76ers legitimate contenders for a time. Since his last All-Star season, Simmons has been through issue after issue, both physically and mentally, which has seen him play just 43 games since 2021.
12. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 35 Career Triple Doubles
Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 22.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG
The presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo at 12th on the list of players with the most triple-doubles is a testament to the player he has become over the last six years. Giannis began his career as an experiment as the 15th overall pick out of Greece. Over his first three seasons in Milwaukee, Giannis averaged just 12.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.9 APG. In 2017, he would earn his first All-Star appearance and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, averaging 22.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 5.4 APG.
Since that time, Giannis has become a two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and won a Finals MVP and NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021. In the six seasons since his first All-Star selection, Giannis has averaged 28.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 5.6 APG. He has averaged 10.0 RPG or more every season over the last six seasons, and in 2022-23, he averaged over 30.0 PPG for the first time in his career.
11. Fat Lever – 43 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Fadeaway World
Career Stats: 13.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Before triple-doubles were just a way of the game like they are today, Lafayette “Fat” Lever made them a trend in the 1980s. Lever got his career started with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1982-83 after being selected 11th overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. He would spend two seasons in Portland, averaging 8.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 1.8 SPG. Lever was then dealt to Denver as part of a deal that landed Portland Kiki Vandeweghe.
In Denver, Lever blossomed into one of the best two-way guards in the entire NBA. His first two seasons were rather pedestrian, but by 1986-87, Lever was a different point guard. Between 1987 and 1990, Lever would have a four-year stretch with the Nuggets, where he averaged 18.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 7.5 APG, and 2.5 SPG. Denver would go to the playoffs six times in six seasons, with Lever leading the way at the point guard position but was never able to capture an NBA title.
10. Luka Doncic – 56 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 27.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Luka Doncic being just 24 years old and already in the top 10 in NBA history with 56 career triple-doubles is absolutely incredible. Doncic just completed his fifth season with the Dallas Mavericks and is already the franchise leader in triple-doubles and already cracked the top 10 in NBA history. Doncic has taken the league by storm, emerging as the best player from the 2018 NBA Draft class as far as scoring and playmaking are concerned.
Doncic got his career started off with a sensational Rookie of the Year campaign. He averaged 21.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG that season, already putting on full display his all-around impact on a team. Since that season, Doncic has remained a 27.5 PPG or better scorer with Dallas as well as putting in around 8.8 RPG and 8.5 APG. In 2022-23, he averaged a career-high 32.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 8.0 APG and missed the playoffs one season after advancing to the 2022 Western Conference Finals.
9. Larry Bird – 59 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
For 13 seasons, we watched Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics compete at the highest levels of competition in the NBA. Bird would lead the 80s Celtics to three NBA championships in his career while also winning two MVPs and two Finals MVPs. For the first six years of his career, Bird was a consistent 30.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG player. When you add in his playmaking ability, triple-doubles came naturally to Larry Legend.
By 1984, his fourth season in Boston, Bird was the MVP of the league averaging 24.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 6.6 APG. From 1984 thru 1986, Bird would win three straight MVP awards while leading the Celtics to two NBA championships. Over these three seasons, Bird averaged 26.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 6.7 APG. Bird began to slow down due to back issues in the late 80s and early 90s but still averaged 24.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 7.0 APG over the final six seasons of his career.
8. James Harden – 74 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 24.7 PG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Over the last 10 years, it would be a serious conversation between James Harden and any other player in the NBA as the best offensive player in the league. Harden began his career as the third overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009. He would spend three seasons as their Sixth Man off the bench and averaging 12.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.5 APG. He would be named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2012 as well.
After the 2012 season, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets and immediately became a star. Harden would make eight straight All-Star appearances from 2013 thru 2020 with the Rockets and became an MVP in 2018. He won three straight scoring titles from 2018 thru 2020 and an assist title in 2017. In his nine seasons with the Rockets, Harden averaged 29.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 7.7 APG. Since his reign in Houston, Harden has spent time with both the Nets and Sixers, playing all of 2022-23 with Philadelphia. He led the NBA in assists this season with 10.7 APG while adding 21.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG in 59 appearances.
7. Wilt Chamberlain – 78 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
As we have covered here at Fadeaway World quite a bit, Wilt Chamberlain was as dominant of a scorer and rebounder as there has ever been in the NBA. He won seven straight scoring titles to begin his career, 11 rebounding titles, and even led the NBA in total assists in 1968. Chamberlain was as spectacular of an athlete that the NBA has ever had the pleasure of having in its ranks and his spot at seventh on this list is a testament to his overall basketball ability.
In his first six seasons with the Warriors, Chamberlain won six scoring titles and averaged 40.6 PPG, 24.9 RPG, and just 3.1 APG. He would then spend the next three seasons with the Sixers averaging 29.0 PPG, 23.9 RPG, and 6.3 APG. After finally tapping into his playmaking, he became an NBA champion with the Sixers in 1968. He would add another championship with the Lakers in 1972 as well. In his final five seasons with the Lakers, Wilt would average 17.7 PPG, 19.2 RPG, and 4.3 APG.
6. Nikola Jokic – 105 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 20.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG
At just 28 years old, Nikola Jokic is already just the sixth player in NBA history to reach 100 career triple-doubles. It is pretty remarkable when you consider that even over his first three seasons, Jokic was relatively unknown as a second-round pick out of Serbia. Since 2019, Jokic has begun his ascent to the top of the NBA’s hierarchy and become a two-time MVP looking for his third straight in 2022-23.
The way Jokic has made the ultimate impact on the Denver Nuggets over the past few seasons is his ability to have the entire offense run through him. Jokic has excelled as a scorer, and rebounder, but especially as a playmaker and passer. Jokic has maximized his ability to find teammates from both the low and high posts to become the ultimate offensive weapon. In 2022-23, Jokic has led the Nuggets to the best record in the Western Conference averaging 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 9.8 APG.
T4. Jason Kidd – 107 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Jason Kidd was one of the premier playmakers and overall point guards of the 90s and 2000s. He was a two-way star that earned 10 All-Star selections, six All-NBA Team selections, and nine All-Defensive Team selections in his career. What made Kidd extra special aside from his clear ability to maximize success for his team, was his fearlessness and never giving up on a play. In an era where the paint was clogged and big men were elite, Kidd fought for rebounds like he was 6’10’’.
In his first seven seasons with the Mavericks and Suns, Kidd was a Rookie of the Year, four-time All-Star, and a three-time assists champ. He averaged 14.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 9.4 APG over that time and made his way up this list in the process. Over the next 11 seasons with the Nets and Mavericks again, Kidd was either the best or second-best point guard in basketball as he led the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances and won an NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011. In his last decade as a player, Kidd averaged 12.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 8.8 APG.
T4. LeBron James – 107 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
LeBron James being top five in career triple-doubles is the least surprising thing about this list. Isn’t he in the top five in just about everything by now? For the last two decades, we have watched as LeBron James transformed into perhaps the greatest all-around basketball player in NBA history. He reached elite levels as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker, and defender, winning four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and four Finals MVP awards.
James’ career can be broken down into numerous parts. There is the beginning in Cleveland when James began his rise to the top of the NBA’s ranks. He averaged 27.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 7.0 APG in his first seven seasons with the Cavaliers and appeared in one NBA Finals. James would then spend four seasons in Miami where he led the Heat to four Finals appearances, two championships, and won two Finals MVP awards. Going back to Cleveland, James advanced to four straight NBA Finals with them winning one championship in 2016 averaging 26.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 8.0 APG over that time. Finally, with the Lakers since 2019, James has led them to one NBA championship in 2020 as well and has averaged 27.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 8.0 APG with them over the last five seasons.
3. Magic Johnson – 138 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
The greatest point guard in NBA history just had to appear somewhere on this list and he comes in at number three with 138 career triple-doubles. Johnson’s all-around ability was on full display even as a rookie when he led the Lakers to an NBA championship and sealed the deal with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. Johnson would lead the most exciting team of the 80s, the Showtime Lakers, to five NBA championships in the 80s while capturing three Finals MVP awards and three MVP awards as well.
From 1980 thru 1985, Magic led the Lakers to three NBA championships while averaging 18.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 10.3 APG. Standing at 6’9’’, Johnson had an advantage over most guards size-wise with his ability to see over the defense and see through them at the same time. From 1986 thru 1991, his final healthy season in the NBA, the Lakers would win two more NBA championships behind Magic’s 21.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 12.3 APG. Johnson retired second to only Oscar Robertson in the category and still holds strong in third 30 years later.
2. Oscar Robertson – 181 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons – USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Oscar Robertson was the first true do-it-all point guard in the NBA. He came in as an elite scorer, passer, and rebounder who never gave up on any play and was as efficient as anyone ever has been with the ball in their hands. Over his first six seasons with the Cincinnati Royals, Robertson was named MVP in 1964 and averaged a triple-double overall with 30.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 10.7 APG. In 1962, he became the only player, until 2017, who averaged a triple-double for an entire season.
The only thing missing from Robertson’s career was a championship ring. Over his last four seasons with the Royals, Robertson averaged 27.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 9.4 APG but still had no luck in chasing an NBA championship. Then, with a trade to the Milwaukee Bucks, that all changed. In his first season with the Bucks, he and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would lead them to their first NBA championship behind 19.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 8.2 APG from Oscar. In his final four seasons with the Bucks, he averaged 16.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 7.6 APG.
1. Russell Westbrook – 198 Career Triple-Doubles
Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Career Stats: 22.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Until Russell Westbrook exploded in 2017, the triple-double record had been an unobtainable milestone. Never again did NBA fans ever think they would see a player average a triple-double for a season until that magical season in which Westbrook became MVP. The triple-double king began his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2008-09 and just four seasons later, was helping lead them to an NBA Finals. By 2017, he was an MVP and a two-time scoring champion as well.
Westbrook has been the most explosive and athletic point guard maybe ever so his athleticism and aggression have led him to a ton of points scored and rebounds grabbed. What has been impressive was Westbrook’s playmaking at his peak as he led a fast-paced Thunder offense. From 2017 thru 2019, Westbrook recorded three straight seasons in which he averaged a triple-double and 26.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 10.4 APG over that time. He has won two scoring titles and three assists titles in his career as well as earned nine All-Star selections and nine All-NBA Team selections.
Source: fadeawayworld
