Top 5 NBA players with most triple-doubles in history
As LeBron James equals Jason Kidd's fourth place record in the all-time chart, here are the Top 5 Most Triple-Doubles in NBA history.
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A triple-double is a feat where a player records double digits in at least three categories out of – points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Over the years, NBA stars have racked up records of the feat, with Russell Westbrook topping the chart. So who are the top 5 players with the most triple-doubles in the history of the NBA?
Previously held by Oscar Robertson for decades, Westbrook’s natural flair for rebounds and exceptional skillset on the court helped him deliver triple-doubles day in and day out and lead the all-time triple-double charts.
Players who can amass triple-doubles are universally looked at as all-around, versatile performers on the court. This list is chock full of such players who can make a difference on both ends of the court. And it starts off with a bang!
Also Read: Which teams have never lost in the NBA Finals?
#5 LeBron James: 120
LeBron James has ascended near the top of most of the NBA’s career records leaderboards. Currently playing his 7th season as a Laker, the 40-year-old has amassed 120 triple-doubles through 22 NBA seasons.
Perhaps the most surprising part about this stat is that it feels like he should have more! But there was a time in James’ career when stat-chasing was not his main motivation on the court. He’s often left games 1 or 2 stats shy of a triple-double – an assist or two here, a rebound or 2 there.
However, his late-career seems to be dedicated to amassing as many records as he possibly can. It is quite possible for him to overtake the next player on this list. The day of his retirement will be a spectacle with the whole world watching!
#4 Magic Johnson: 138
Widely regarded as perhaps the greatest Laker of all time, Magic Johnson ranks 4th on this list. Johnson burst onto the NBA scene as a much-awaited #1 pick. And by the end of his 1st NBA season, he had a Finals MVP trophy to his name, racking up 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists in Game 6 of the Finals while filling in for Kareem as the team’s starting center.
Magic continued to hone his skills during his NBA tenure. By the time of his retirement, he had shaped into a lethal 3-point shooter. But his first and foremost skill was always passing, and the reason why the Magic man has 138 triple-doubles to his name through only 12 seasons of NBA play.
#3 Nikola Jokic: 144
Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic is unequivocally the best player in the NBA right now. Jokic’s ability to conduct his team’s offensive gameplay rivals the very best in league history. Even the likes of Magic Johnson have come out to praise his ability to control the pace of the game.
Jokic seems to have ascended to a new career peak in terms of gameplay in the 2024-25 NBA season. The 3-time MVP is putting together a prohibitive case for his 4th MVP. Nikola is averaging 31.5 points (2nd in the NBA), 13 rebounds (#1 in the NBA) and 9.7 assists (2nd in the NBA) per game. He tallied his 145th triple-double recently, and like LeBron, has several near-misses on triple-doubles tallied – just because he doesn’t care about stat-chasing one bit.
#2 Oscar Robertson: 181
Oscar Robertson is the second name among players with the most triple-doubles in NBA history. Robertson’s all-time record of 181 triple-doubles stood for decades until Rusell Westbrook surpassed it in May 2021. Oscar Robertson was the first player in NBA history to have averaged a Triple-Double for a season in 1961-1962. Besides, the NBA legend has also led the league in assists six times.
#1 Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook and triple-doubles are two words that are practically synonymous. He boasts a staggering 4 different seasons of averaging a triple-double to his name. Active and leading the chart at 201, Westbrook overtook Oscar Robertson’s all-time record in May 2021. With 2 scoring titles and 3 assists titles to his name, Westbrook is widely regarded as perhaps the best athlete at the PG position in league history.
Now playing for the Denver Nuggets, Brodie may ultimately become the first-ever NBA professional to reach the 200 mark in triple-doubles. Rusell Westbrook’s spectacular scoring and rebounding prowess have made him the modern-day icon of Triple-Doubles.
With LeBron James continuing his stellar form, Nikola Jokic currently at his prime, and Russell Westbrook active and playing – the NBA’s all-time Triple-Double chart will continue to shift. Will Nikola Jokic be the one to overtake LeBron James, or will ‘King’ James overtake Magic Johnson first?
Speculations are up in the air with a whimsical question at the back of the head. Will LeBron James ultimately claim the top spot as he did in the NBA all-time scoring charts? That, perhaps, seems quite unlikely. But well, so did breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)