Who are the NBA’s all-time leaders in triple-doubles?
Nikola Jokic tied Wilt Chamberlain for most triple-doubles by a center in NBA history when he hit his 78th last week and ranks sixth overall.
When Nikola Jokic hit his 78th career triple-double on Saturday during the Denver Nuggets’ 122-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, he tied Wilt Chamberlain for the most triple-doubles by a center in NBA history. Now, he and Chamberlain are tied for sixth overall among players at any position.
Russell Westbrook leads the pack with 194 triple-doubles. Behind him are Oscar Robertson with 181, Magic Johnson with 138, Jason Kidd with 107, and LeBron James with 105. Those are the only players who have surpassed 100, but Jokic is on track to reach 100 as well. If he does, he’ll become the first center to achieve it.
Jokic adds to impressive triple-double resumé
Jokic is only 27 years old and in his eighth season in the NBA, but he continues to soar up the triple-double charts. He still has a long way to go before taking the out right lead in the NBA’s toughest statistical category.
Along with the number 78 triple-double, the Serbian dropped 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in the Nuggets’ win over the Thunder on Saturday. In Wednesday’s 110-99 victory over the Lakers, Jokic put up 31 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals in just 35 minutes. In that game, he was just one assist shy of a triple-double that would have put him above Wilt Chamberlain. It will happen soon, though. Jokic is averaging nearly a triple-double with 22.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 9.4 assists over five games.
Harden next up with 69, and counting
Behind Jokic is James Harden, who currently has 69 career triple doubles in his 947 games in the league, working on catching up to the two-time reigning MVP.
LeBron James is in the top five on the list with 105 and counting while his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Russell Wilson holds the NBA record with 194 career triple doubles.
Westbrook well about the rest of the pack
Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s previous record of 181 triple-doubles in 2021 when his then Washington Wizards lost to the Atlanta Hawks. Since then, he has registered 13 more and has averaged a triple-double in four of the last five seasons. 171 of his 194 triple-doubles have come since 2016.
Robertson still sits second with 181 and looks certain to sit there for quite some time. Magic Johnson is third with 138, and Jason Kidd has 107 while LeBron James rounds out the top five with his 105.
Jokic will go for number 79 tonight when the Nuggets take on the Utah Jazz at 9 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver.