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NBA: 30 greatest playmakers in NBA history

By Jerran Anderson

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
(Photo by Steve Nowland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals/Milwaukee Bucks

Oscar Robertson was better known as “Mr. Triple-Double” during his time in the NBA. He became the first player to average a triple-double during a regular season in 1961-62 with the then-Cincinnati Royals.

Robertson leads all players in league history with 181 triple-double performances. He earned the 1960-61 NBA Rookie of the Year award his first year in the league, producing 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists per contest.

His second season in the NBA, he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 rebounds per game, becoming the first player in league history to average such a feat. Along with his average, he posted 41 triple-doubles during the regular season.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook recently passed that mark during the 2016-17 regular season with 42, while joining him as the only player to average a triple-double during a regular season.

Although he was considered a stat-sheet stuffer in his day, he only won one NBA title during his career. He won the 1971 NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Though Abdul-Jabbar took home the Finals MVP award, Robertson still put up 23.5 points, 9.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game on 52.3 percent shooting from the field in a league without a 3-point line.

He’ll go down as “Mr. Triple-Double” for a reason. Robertson finished his career averaging 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game through his 14-year career.