The triple-double is one of the most exciting stat lines in the NBA. Nowadays, it seems like a player has a triple-double every night. Thanks to the extremely high level of skill from today’s athletes combined with a weaker defensive era of basketball, players are able to grab double-digit assists and rebounds on quite a regular basis.
But even until this day, only four players have managed a quadruple-double. That’s right, only four players in NBA history have managed to record double-digit points, rebounds, assists, along with 10 or more blocks or steals. These four guys are legends of the game and we haven’t seen a player put forth a stat line like this in the modern era. Here are the four players who have produced a monster quadruple-double stat line, ranked by most impressive.
4. Nate Thurmond – Chicago Bulls
22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, 12 blocks
The legendary center was the first player in NBA history to produce a quadruple-double. As a member of the Chicago Bulls in 1974, Thurmond posted a monster stat line in the very first game of the regular season. He was a man among boys in this one, swatting away 12 shots with ease. Many claim Thurmond was surprised at how the offensive players kept coming straight at him and Thurmond made them pay each time.
In quite possibly the best game of his career, Thurmond also added 22 points (8-12 FG) and a whopping 13 assists. Thurmond only averaged 2.7 APG for his career, so clearly he was a part of a spectacular night. His 14 rebounds are one under his career average at 15.0 RPG, so it’s no surprise he came up with 14 boards. Overall, Thurmond set the standard for the quadruple-double and only three other players managed to achieve this stat line.
3. Alvin Robertson – San Antonio Spurs
20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals
Two Spurs appear on this list, and Alvin Robertson is the first one to put up a monster quadruple-double in a legendary performance. Many old heads rave about Alvin Robertson, but the entire younger generation wasn’t so lucky to see his defensive prowess and hustle amber the Spurs. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in Spurs history and managed to put up a quadruple-double mainly due to his ability to play lockdown defense.
Robertson led the league in steals on three separate occasions (1986,1987,1991) and currently ranks in the top ten in steals all time. Robertson was clearly a defensive specialist, and he put it on display by coming up with ten steals in this game. Overall, Robertson is the only non-center to put up a quadruple-double deserves all the respect he gets for this achievement.
2. Hakeem Olajuwon – Houston Rockets
18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwS_2LwsHX4
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is widely regarded as the greatest post player in NBA history. His footwork on the block was surreal, and his offensive firepower made him an unstoppable player. But Olajuwon’s two-way play was the reason he won two straight NBA titles and 2 straight Finals MVPs. Hakeem managed to win 2 DPOY Awards in his career, and his ability to lock down the paint always gave his team a chance to win.
Olajuwon’s quadruple-double was phenomenal. He not only posted 18 points and 10 assists, but grabbed a monster 16 rebounds and swatted away 11 shots. That kind of activity on the defensive end is something we don’t see anymore, and this was probably the greatest statistical performance, in terms of two-way play, in NBA history. When it comes to big men, Olajuwon deserves a place in the top five and his quadruple-double only further accentuates that point.
1. David Robinson – San Antonio Spurs
34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocks
The Admiral, David Robinson, is the first and only player in NBA history to record a 30-point quadruple-double. Robinson was clearly a physical specimen, with a powerful body paired with exceptional athleticism. But he was extremely skilled and one of the greatest all-around big men the league has ever seen.
Robinson was a force on that night, scoring at will and also doing his part on the defensive end. Robinson’s quadruple-double is the greatest of all time, and we have yet to see any player come close to this monster stat line. While Tim Duncan gets most of the praise when it comes to their championship together, people must take Robinson’s quadruple-double performance as a reminder that the latter was a dominant force as a member of the legendary San Antonio Spurs organization.
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