NBA Leaders in Most Triple Doubles; No, It’s Not Russell Westbrook Yet

On his second outing playing for the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook passed Magic Johnson with his 139th triple-double record. He is now the second NBA player with the most triple-doubles.

On the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Rockets won 126-123. Westbrook chipped in 28 points, ten rebounds, and 13 assists.

What is a triple-double?

That is precisely what triple-double is: achieving a double-digit total on three out of five statistical categories in basketball such as point, steal, rebound, assist, and block in a single game.

Only a few NBA players reached double-double and triple-double in one game. Here are the names of who hold the records (as of November 2019).

#1 Oscar Robertson (181)

Robertson still holds the career-record triple-doubles at 181. He reached his 100th triple-double status in just 277 games. The Big O is the only NBA player who has back-to-back triple-double seasons. He averaged 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in one season while he was still playing.

Robertson was also listed as one of the best guards in NBA history.

#2 Russell Westbrook (139)

Westbrook’s last two season averages are a triple-double. Only 30 years (turning 31 on November 12) and with no injuries, Westbrook has up to six good playing years ahead of him.

Interestingly, he was also the third NBA player to get passed the 100th mark of games with triple-doubles at 736 games. 

#3 Magic Johnson (138)

Johnson’s on-court physical dominance was the key to amassing such many triple-doubles. He was a shooter, rebounder with excellent assisting skills. However, he had to retire early because of an illness. He too could have passed Robertson’s record if he continued playing for Los Angeles Lakers.

He reached his career-record of 100 triple-doubles in 656 games.

#4 Jason Kidd (107)

Kidd was the triple-doubler who has his ways with the ball. He often starts with a rebound, dribbles the ball to the other side, and passes the ball to his teammate. He was scoring triple-doubles even on his rookie season. 

He held the record of most triple-doubles that pass the 25 points until Luka Doncic steal the record On November 3 Dallas Mavericks game against Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kidd is now the assistant coach of Los Angeles Lakers. 

#5 LeBron James (81)

James is the second active NBA player in the top five. Although he also has a good shot taking over the #1 spot from Robertson, he isn’t explicitly aiming for it. And at 34, sports analysts say that the number of high-level years from King James is already limited.

Nonetheless, he is still in the running for reaching his 100th triple-double. But that the fans have to wait.

The question now is not whether Westbrook can surpass Robertson’s record because he surely can. It’s only a matter of time—there’s only a 42 deficit, and NBA teams play for 82 games per season.

The 2019-20 NBA season could be it.

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For Westbrook’s likely take over of the #1: will it be this 2019-20 or 2020-21? What do you think?