NBA Stat Central #19: Triple-Doubles (2-22-13)

On this week’s NBA Stat Central…Recording a triple-double is one of the best ways an individual can have an impact on an NBA game. Opposed to the double-double where a player can focus on their strengths, a triple-double makes certain the player excels at multiple facets of the game.

What kind of impact does a triple-double have on a team? Do they usually win the game? How do the different types of triple-doubles affect how a team performs? We’ll look at that and more on this week’s NBA Stat Central!

NBA Stat Central is a weekly column here at HoopsHabit.com where we delve deeper into the world of NBA statistics. We’re here every Friday with a new theme so make sure to check us out each week.

Triple-Double All-Time Career Leaders

1. Oscar Robertson, 181
2. Magic Johnson, 138
3. Jason Kidd, 118
4. Wilt Chamberlain, 78
5. Larry Bird, 59

It’s almost unbelievable to see how many triple-doubles Kidd has. The younger fans don’t remember how good he once was and how he was a triple-double threat each and every night.

Now, let’s take a look at how team’s perform based on triple-doubles.

Note: All statistics are from 1985-86 season until today. Special thanks to basketball-reference.com for their awesome research tools.

Total Triple-Doubles: 1,147

Team Record When Player Has Triple-Double (875-272, 76.3 percent win)

Points-Rebounds-Assists

Jason Kidd was a nightly triple-double threat in his prime. Photo Credit: Bridgetds, Flickr.com

1,087 occurrences, (830-257, 76 percent win)

Leader: Jason Kidd, 118 times

Points-Rebounds-Steals

Clyde “The Glide” Drexler was more than just a dunker. Photo Credit: audiovisualjunkie, Flickr.com

Three occurrences, (3-0, 100 percent win)

Leader: Clyde Drexler, Kendall Gill and Alvin Robertson, one each

Points-Rebounds-Blocks

The most skilled big man ever, turned philanthropist. (Photo Credit: Texas Heart Institute, Flickr.com)

54 occurrences, (39-15, 72 percent win)

Leader: Hakeem Olajuwon, 11 times

Rebounds-Assists-Steals

Alvin Robertson honing his craft at Arkansas. (Photo Credit: Larry Miller, Flickr.com)

One occurrence, (1-0, 100 percent win)

Leader: Alvin Robertson, one

Rebounds-Assists-Blocks

David Robinson doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Photo Credit: goarmyphotos, Flickr.com

Two occurrences, (2-0, 100 percent win)

Leader: Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson, one each

No player since 1984-85 has recorded a triple-double with steals and blocks involved. Still, one can see just how dominating a team is when one of their players has a triple double. Winning at a 76 percent clip roughly comes out to a team record of 62-20 for a season.

Thanks for joining us and we’ll see you next Friday on NBA Stat Central!