Double-Double In Basketball: What Is It?
While watching basketball, you may have heard broadcasters mention the term “double-double” and wondered what it means.
Whether you’re new to basketball or just interested in a deep dive on all things double-doubles, we're at your service. This article is a comprehensive guide on double-doubles, including the various ways to record one, the NBA’s all-time leaders in career double-doubles and why they are important in fantasy basketball.
What Is a Double-Double?
The NBA defines a double-double as follows:
“When a player reaches double figures (10 or more) in two of the five main statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks — they have achieved a double-double.”
The NBA’s definition goes on to note that “the most common double-double combinations are points and rebounds for big men, and points and assists for guards. Reaching double figures in steals or blocks is extremely rare.”
The Various Ways to Get a Double-Double
Again, there are five main stat categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Reaching double figures in any two of these stat categories counts as a double-double. For example, if a player has 10 points and 10 rebounds, that is a double-double.
A player can record a double-double without scoring 10 points as long as they reach double figures in two of the other five stat categories. However, these double-doubles are very rare in the NBA since they are so difficult to achieve.
Mark Eaton has the most career double-doubles with blocks (14), while Alvin Robertson has the most career double-doubles with steals (4).
No player has ever recorded 10 blocks and 10 steals in the same game. Hakeem Olajuwon came the closest against the Seattle SuperSonics on March 10, 1987, finishing with 38 points, 17 rebounds, 12 blocks, and 7 steals. He’s the only player in NBA history to record at least 7 blocks and 7 steals in the same game.
Who Has the Most Double-Doubles in NBA History?
That distinction belongs to Wilt Chamberlain, whose mark of 968 career double-doubles seems untouchable.
San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan was the most prolific double-double getter of the modern era, posting 841 of them throughout his 19-year career. All of these were points-and-rebounds double-doubles (although there were four games where he also had 10 assists, turning these into triple-doubles).
Here are the NBA’s top-10 all-time leaders in double-doubles:
- Wilt Chamberlain, 968
- Moses Malone, 894
- Elvin Hayes, 890
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 885
- Tim Duncan, 841
- Karl Malone, 814
- Bill Russell, 785
- Hakeem Olajuwon, 775
- Walt Bellamy, 756
- Dwight Howard, 748
Which Active Player Has The Most Double-Doubles?
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is the NBA’s active leader in double-doubles with 573 (as of 2024).
Among active players, here are the NBA’s current leaders in double-doubles:
1. LeBron James, 573
2. Chris Paul, 527
3. Nikola Vucevic, 514
4. Russell Westbrook, 510
5. Andre Drummond, 479
6, Kevin Love, 468
7. Nikola Jokic, 444
8. Rudy Gobert, 440
9. Anthony Davis, 434
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 407
Double-Doubles In Fantasy Basketball
Double-doubles are very valuable in fantasy basketball, as it means a player is filling the stat sheet in multiple categories. This is extremely beneficial in both points leagues and nine-category leagues.
In 2023-2024, Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Dončić led all NBA players in fantasy points per game (59.34), followed by Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (59.30 FPPG), Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (57.18 FPPG), Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (55.75 FPPG), and Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis (52.42 FPPG).
It’s no coincidence that Doncic, Jokic, Antetokounmpo, and Davis were also among the league leaders in total double-doubles, which we’ll get to in a moment.
Further reading:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the NBA in double-doubles last season?
During the 2023-24 NBA season, Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis led the NBA in double-doubles with 77. Sabonis averaged 19.4 points and 13.7 rebounds (which led all players).
Sabonis recorded a double-double in 61 straight games last season, which was the seventh-longest streak in NBA history and the longest in the modern era (since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976). As a result, Sabonis was terrific in fantasy leagues, shining in category leagues and averaging the eighth-most fantasy points per game (47.69).
Here are the double-double leaders for the 2023-24 season:
1. Domantas Sabonis, 77
2. Nikola Jokic, 68
3. Anthony Davis, 64
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 57
5. Rudy Gobert, 54
6. Luka Doncic, 49
7. Nikola Vucevic, 45
8T. Tyrese Haliburton, 44
8T. Jalen Duren, 44
10. Victor Wembanyama, 43
What is a triple-double?
The NBA defines a triple-double as "when a player reaches double figures in three of the five categories.”
The NBA adds that “nearly all triple-doubles consist of points, rebounds, and assists.” With that said, there have been instances when players recorded a triple-double with either blocks or steals.
In 2017, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double without scoring 10 points. In a 122-107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Green had 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals, and 4 points.
Here are the NBA’s all-time leaders in triple-doubles:
1. Russell Westbrook, 199
2. Oscar Robertson, 181
3. Magic Johnson, 138
4. Nikola Jokic, 130
5. LeBron James, 112
6. Jason Kidd, 107
7. Wilt Chamberlain, 78
8T. Luka Doncic, 77
8T. James Harden, 77
10. Larry Bird, 59
Who recorded the most consecutive double-doubles in NBA history?
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain once recorded a double-double in 227 straight games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Chamberlain also holds the record for the longest single-season streak of double-doubles, as he posted a double-double in 81 consecutive games during the 1966-67 season.
Put Your Knowledge to the Test
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about double-doubles, perhaps you’ll have a greater appreciation for the game’s best stat-stuffers the next time you turn on a basketball game.
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