Triple-doubles are a relatively rare feat in the NBA. It requires the player to dominate a game in three different ways — usually scoring, rebounding, and playmaking.
On March 18th, 1968 the NBA’s greatest record breaker allegedly did something amazing: a quintuple-double (the first and only one in NBA history).
The NBA didn’t count blocks and steals back then so we don’t know what his official numbers were. On that day, however, the belief is that Wilt dropped 53 points, 32 rebounds, 14 assists, 24 blocks, and 11 steals in just a single game.
As crazy as that is, it was routine for Chamberlain to put up numbers like that. Back then, he was about as dominant as they come and he was soo good that the NBA had to change some of their rules. In fact, for the entire season, he averaged 24.3 points, 23.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists.
Wilt is, inarguably, one of the most dominant big men to ever play the game. He is the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game as well as average more than 40 and 50 points in a season. In total, he has won two NBA championships, earned four MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year award, one NBA Finals MVP award, and was selected to 13 All-Star Games.
We probably won’t see a career like his ever again and his quintuple-double performance serves as yet another reminder at just how special the dude really was.
