Revealed! Has anyone ever gotten a quintuple-double in the NBA?

Revealed! Has anyone ever gotten a quintuple-double in the NBA?

Babu Tendu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM

In the NBA, a triple-double is an impressive feat achieved by accumulating double-digit totals in three statistical categories: points, rebounds, and assists. However, a quintuple-double is an even more remarkable accomplishment that requires reaching double figures in five categories. The elusive quintuple-double has only been achieved a handful of times in basketball history, making it one of the sport's rarest and most awe-inspiring achievements.

Quintuple double
Get informed of who has been able to achieve this fate since the inception of the competition. Photo by Sam Wasson. (Modified by author).
Source: Getty Images

The difficulty of achieving a quintuple-double lie in the challenge of excelling in multiple categories simultaneously. To accomplish this feat, a player must display exceptional skills in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks. Not only do they have to be a versatile scorer, but they must also excel in defense and significantly contribute to their team's success.

What is a quintuple-double in basketball?

A quintuple-double is an extremely rare achievement in basketball that occurs when a player records double digits in five different statistical categories during a single game. The five categories typically include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

While triple-doubles (double digits in three types) are becoming more common in the NBA, a quintuple-double has only been accomplished a few times in basketball history. Only four instances of a quintuple duplex have been recorded in basketball history, with the most recent occurrence in 1998.

These rare games typically require an exceptional level of skill and athleticism, as well as a bit of luck, to have the opportunity to accumulate statistics in five different categories. Due to the difficulty of achieving a quintuple double, it is often regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments in basketball.

Has anyone ever gotten a quintuple-double in the NBA?

Wilt Chamberlain received one of the most notable quintuple-double box scores in NBA history. In 1968, while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Chamberlain achieved a five-fold duplex in a game against the Detroit Pistons. He recorded an astounding 22 points, 25 rebounds, 21 assists, eight blocks, and 12 steals, making him the only player in NBA history to achieve this feat.

Chamberlain's performance was a testament to his incredible talent and versatility on the court. His ability to dominate the game on both ends of the court was unparalleled, and his quintuple duplex remains one of the most outstanding individual performances in NBA history.

Despite being a towering figure in the sport, Chamberlain was also known for his unselfish play and his willingness to involve his teammates in the game, as evidenced by his impressive assist total in this game.

While other players have come close to achieving a five-fold duplex in the years since Chamberlain's historical performance, they have yet to replicate his incredible feat. As such, his achievement is a testament to his unique skill and a significant milestone in NBA history.

Tamika Catchings' quintuple-double

One of the most notable quintuple duplex performances in WNBA history came from Tamika Catchings, who achieved the milestone in 2005 while playing for the Indiana Fever.

Catchings recorded 25 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, ten steals, and two blocks against the Washington Mystics, becoming the first player in WNBA history to achieve a five-fold duplex. Like Chamberlain, Catchings was a dominant force on the court, capable of excelling in all aspects of the game, from scoring to defense.

Quintuple double in basketball
Tamika Catchings speaks to the media during a press conference for the NBA All-Star 2024 Announcement on October 3, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Ron Hoskins.
Source: Getty Images

Catchings' five-fold duplex was a testament to her incredible talent and versatility, and it cemented her status as one of the greatest players in WNBA history. Her achievement also helped to raise awareness about the WNBA and the incredible athletes that play in the league.

While the feat has yet to be achieved again in the WNBA or NBA, Catchings' accomplishment reminds us of what is possible when a player's skill and determination come together on the court.

Draymond Green's quintuple-double

Despite the rarity of the feat, there have been instances where players have come very close to achieving a five-fold duplex. One example occurred in 2017 when Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors performed incredibly against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Green recorded 4 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists, ten steals, and five blocks in the game, falling just short of a five-fold duplex. While Green's performance was not enough to make history, it remains one of the most impressive individual performances in the history of the NBA.

Green's near-quintuple duplex showcased his incredible defensive prowess and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. His tenacious play on defense resulted in a staggering ten steals and five blocks, while his court vision and passing ability led to ten assists. Despite falling just short of the milestone, Green's performance was a testament to his all-around skills on the court.

Hakeem Olajuwon's quintuple-double

Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the few basketball players in history to have achieved a five-fold duplex. He accomplished this feat on March 3, 1990, during a game between the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks. In that game, Olajuwon recorded 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists, ten steals, and 11 blocks.

Hakeem Olajuwon Quintuple double
Hakeem Olajuwon, #34 of the Houston Rockets, looks on against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1989 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Raphael.
Source: Getty Images

Olajuwon's quintuple-double is widely regarded as one of basketball's most incredible individual performances. His remarkable ability to impact the game in so many ways on both ends of the court was exceptional.

What is a triple-double in basketball?

A triple-double is a term used in basketball to describe a player's performance in a game where they have accumulated double-digit numbers in three different statistical categories. The most common triple-double includes:

  • Scoring at least 10 points
  • Grabbing at least ten rebounds
  • Dishing out at least ten assists

However, other categories, such as steals and blocks, can also be included in a triple duplex.

Triple-doubles have recently become increasingly common in the NBA, with several players achieving them every season. They are a testament to a player's all-around skill and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Achieving a triple-double requires a combination of scoring, passing, and rebounding skills, as well as defensive abilities such as stealing and blocking.

What is a quadruple-double in basketball?

A quadruple-double is a rare achievement in basketball that occurs when a player records double-digit numbers in four different statistical categories during a single game. These categories usually include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

The rarity and difficulty of achieving a quintuple-double in basketball, where a player records double-digit numbers in five different statistical categories during a single game, is highlighted in the text. It notes that only four quintuple duals have ever been recorded in basketball history, making it a remarkable accomplishment requiring exceptional skill, athleticism, and a bit of luck.

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