Top 10 Guys To Achieve The Impossible
Alvin Robertson (photo. mysanantonio.com)When I was writing about Chris Paul’s attempt to tie Alvin Robertson’s consecutive steals record, I came across an amazing stat: Robertson is one of only four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double.
When you think about that, it’s kind of an amazing feat. While a quadruple-double has only been possible since the 1973-74 season (when the NBA started recording both blocked shots and steals), only Robertson, Nate Thurmond, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson have accomplished the task.
Check out these stat lines:
Nate Thurmond – 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks (October 18, 1974)
Alvin Robertson – 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals (February 18, 1986)
Hakeem Olajuwon – 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 blocks (March 29, 1990)
David Robinson – 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks (February 17, 1994)
If you think that’s amazing, consider this: Tennessee-Martin’s Lester Hudson is the only player in NCAA Division I history to achieve such status with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals when he did the deed thirteen months ago on November 13, 2007.
So after 14 years, who in the NBA can achieve the impossible? The names we’ve thrown around are:
Andrei Kirilenko
Chris Paul
Danny Granger
Dwight Howard
Dwyane Wade
Gerald Wallace
Jason Kidd
Josh Smith
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Who will be the next player to drop a quadruple-double?
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December 16th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
rocky lobs says:
i think iggy can be thrown up there too
December 16th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Scott says:
AK would probably be the front runner only cuz he’s able to fill 5 stat category’s, and could get lucky enough to hit double-digits in 4 out of the 5 one magical night.
Other than that CP3 and Dwight are probably the closest, considering they both are able to put numbers up in that extra 4th category. Though Dwight might have issues with assists.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Austin Burton says:
Maybe Shawn Marion, but it would have to be the minimalist version: 11 points, 12 boards, 10 assists, 10 steals.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
amanalone says:
1. Lebron – he gets up for these types of things
2. Jason Kidd – he’s got more to give us before he’s gone
3. Dwayne Wade – the stars can align for him at anytime
4. AK – he’ll have one of those 12, 10, 11, 10, 6 games anytime now
5. Kobe – as soon as one of these other guys hits these numbers, he will too
December 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
I agree with post 2, he can get the blocks and the steals, which would be the hardest part.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
amanalone says:
Austin – I was typing the AK version while you posted your Shawn Marion numbers; I didn’t get “inspired” by what you wrote;
December 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
TD says:
Gotta think Dwight could do it against a team like Golden State. Blocks, he’d be playing against 4 guards on the court most of the night. Assists, they would have to double him after his 10th straight dunk in a row. Points & Rebounds would be easy as he already does that on the regular. Too bad he didn’t get his chance last night, just look what that no-name backup did to the dubs.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
AY says:
any chance we’ll ever see a quintuple-double?
December 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Linca says:
Tim Duncan came awfully close in the 2003 finals, and he’d have to be included…
December 16th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Vince says:
ehm…marcus camby anybody?
10 pts, 10 ast, 10 blk, 10 reb he could do it.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
vINNY says:
Devin Harris
December 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Austin Burton says:
Good call on Duncan. He gets points-boards in his sleep, he can get 10 dimes if Bowen and the rest are hitting their shots, and he could get blocks on a good night.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
haslem says:
mario chalmers. kg
December 16th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
P_Dizzle says:
Rajon Rondo almost had it last night:
25 pts. 9 rebs 8 asts 6 to’s
December 16th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
JRav says:
Good chance Russel, Wilt, and possibly Jerry West and Frazier had quadruple-double.
“any chance we’ll ever see a quintuple-double?”
AK came somewhat close a couple of years ago with a line that something like 5/5/5/5/5 which is pretty crazy.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
coby who? says:
Dwight Howard is my fav, dude just needs to get more assists and he’s got it in the bag! He had that triple double earlier this year so it’s no stretch that he could throw in 10 assists on top of his blocks, rebounds, and points!
Wade, Kobe, and LeBron could all do it just based on sheer talent.
And Josh Smith could if he gets hot…he’s the new Kirilenko without the Chernobyl looking grill.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
rangerjohn says:
duncan has actually come close something like 4-5 times, while he only has what 3 trip doubs, i believe he has had AT LEAST 5 games of double digit points/boards and like 8-9 blocks and assists on the same night. lines like 20/12/9/8.
i know there is a list but i cant remember where it was
December 16th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
EGB says:
who do you guys think can pull off a quintuple? thats points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. i dont think anyone has EVER come close – past or present. maybe ak47 if sloan will play him the whole game. my 8 year old daughter came close in her njb league game in vallejo, ca. 10 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 8 steals. and she only played 2 quarters.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Heckler says:
havent players acheived quadruple doubles with TURNOVERS as a stat?
look that up. if you include a minimum of 10 TURNOVERS, you’d probably see that the quadruple double has been done more than you think
December 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Mark says:
Geez… I’m more inclined to say Dwight will get 10 blocks+10 assists over CP’s 10 steals+10 rebounds (of course, both will get their respective 20.10 night). So I think Lil’ Superman’s got it better.
The rest are capable, but since Howard and Paul consistently get numbers like crazy, I’d put them ahead of the pack. Of course, can’t count out Kobe, since he’s been more ‘well-rounded’ (well-adjusted?) lately.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
AB_40 says:
@ post no. 15 you forget wilt
duncan can do it… if he sets his mind to it but the man just wants to win and does whatever it takes
December 16th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Matt says:
B. Roy could do it.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
caeubona says:
shaq and duncan came close to quadruple doubles in their prime… i think larry bird almost had a quadruple double, but he ended up one assist short…
i’d go with dwight howard against a particularly bad team. he got the triple double once this year already; if he plays against another really bad team he might get the 10 assists just by passing out of double teams… i’ll also go with lebron and d-wade; they’re both putting up crazy numbers… and poster 4 is right, the moment one of these guys gets a quad doub, kobe will bust his a$$ to get one himself..
the five-by-five stat line was already achieved by andrei kirilenko, i think. and i’m betting josh smith will do it better he’s career is done.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
whatitdo says:
I think matt bonner of the spurs can achieve this mark. Maybe can get pentadouble (pts ten stl ast blk).
December 16th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
rob stewart says:
Honorable mention: Kevin Garnett: points,steals, rebs, blocks, and assists. He could possibly get an “Quince double” or whatever you would call it.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Ian says:
rangerjohn u r right
duncan has the best chance
someone mentioned kidd pts would prob be his downfall
December 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
doc says:
Iggy cant do shit.Wilt mightve did it 20 times.I like AK,Bron, and Dwight to challenge.Maybe CP3.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
marcus says:
If i had to bet money id bet on LeBron
December 16th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
baron says:
that guy from the celtics…point gaurd…what’s his name…
December 16th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Rafa23 says:
bird actually fell 1 assist short, because he didn’t play the whole 4th quarter because his team was winning, awesome!
i also remember olajuwon having a 2nd one after the game tape was watched again but the league didn’t count it.
there must be a list with players coming close…
December 16th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Rafa23 says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruple-double
and there it is. big OUCH at clyde drexler.
i also remember vlade divac being close, like 2 reb and 1 ass shy.
ok, enough stats now.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
fatty says:
Chamberlain’s 66 – 67 stat line
“a career-low 24.1 points, but he led the league in rebounds (24.2), ended third in assists (7.8)” (via wikipedia). if they didn’t log blocks and steals till 73, he probably got a few in his day. Even led the L in assists once as well.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Celts Fan says:
@JRAv – when AK did that it was a HUGE thing to stat=heads. That 5×5 has only been done a few times in history. The quintuple double is impossible nowadays (though I bet Wilt and/or Russell coulda and maybe did do it at some point back in the day.)
December 16th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
dj ho says:
@ rob stewart: agree with KG. Lebron’s most likely out of that group.
December 16th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
method526 says:
what about melo?
December 16th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Dagomar says:
Bron could do it. So could Wade or Chris Paul. Even Rose might eventually. But we’ll see – odds are against any of them accomplishing something like this.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
marcus says:
Looking at whos had 5 for 5′s AK has had 3.. so i guess i gotta include him. Also..looking at the list just confirms how amazing Hakeem was.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
rangerjohn says:
tracy mcgrady just got a triple double in the 3rd against denver
December 16th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Dagomar says:
He’s only 7 blocks away from immortality!!
December 16th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Aron says:
@EGB
Never.
@rangerjohn
If Duncan hasn’t done it yet, then I doubt he’ll do it now. That’s my rationale for KG too.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am
control says:
I’d say AK47, but he can barely get a tripdub because he seems to be on a leash. He might be one of the only guys in the league who’d have a chance at quintdubbing.
3 years ago I would have said Ben Wallace could have got a quad double (he’s done 5/5 steals/blocks a few times), but he’s done falled off once he signed that fat contract.
Ron Artest has potential to get one, knowing him he’d get a double tech after going 10/10/9/9 though.
method526
What about him? I believe the unfulfilled potential, moonwalking gunners thread is that way —–>
December 17th, 2008 at 12:06 am
thomasmmm says:
@rangerjohn – t-mac’s game lately is nice.
whatever happened to michael ray richardson?
CP3 would probably get a 20-10-20 before a quad double.
if lebron can, he should’ve already.
d-wade – yeah!
am surprised about the glide – seemed more like a scorer vs. a stat guy
December 17th, 2008 at 2:21 am
junior says:
TD 21, could do it.
lebron,dwight
d-wade
cpaul
thats about it
December 17th, 2008 at 3:32 am
wwill says:
I thought Duncan did it already
December 17th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Kjetil says:
I’m amazed none of you guys mention Oscar Robertson? The guy averaged a triple double, for christ’s sake….
December 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Lt. Goren says:
CP3 and LeBron regularly post triple double numbers, but it’s awfully hard to get 10+ steals category. The all-time record is only 11.
So I’ll bet for a shotblocker with 10+ blocks, 10+ points, 10+ rebounds. Add in a rare 10+ assist game which isn’t that impossible. (1) Dwight Howard (2) Marcus Camby (3) Duncan.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
karizmatic says:
Dwight Howard or Josh Smith are the only people who could potentially do it in my opinion. Pts, Rebs, Blks, and Assts. I think Dwight has the best shot. If he passes out of double teams correctly and his team is draining the open 3, 10 assts is not out of the realm of possibility. The points and rebounds he can do with his eyes closed and combine that with a ridiculous night blocking shots and I think you have your quadruple double.
December 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
john says:
Is he dunking over Lionel Richie?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Amar says:
if AK was on a team where he played more than 28 mpg (like whatever the heck sloan is doing with him) he’d be a good chance to get a quad double. he’s had a few 5×5 (as mention), but he’s also the only guy in NBA history to get a 5×6 in a regular (non OT) game.
he’s missed out on a lot of stats because Sloan is completely anti-stats. heck, stockton doesn’t even have the record for most assists in a game because sloan would take him out of games in blowouts, where stock would have 24 assists midway through the 3rd quarter . . . (the record is 28 iirc)
boo to sloan
yeah to stats!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Amar says:
that’s actually reggie theus that he’s dunking around
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 am
Rafael says:
uhhhmmmm…. I think LEBRON JAMES (LJ23) can be the next Man with a Quadruple Double record as he was showing recently the most amazing performance as he lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to what it deserve.