Who were the four NBA players to have a quadruple-double in a game?

On April 3rd, Victor Wembanyama played against the Nuggets and scored 23 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, made 8 assists, and blocked 9 shots. Although his shooting performance was poor, with only 9 of 29 field goals and 2 of 11 threes, it was remarkable that he was very close to achieving a quadruple-double, an extremely rare feat in the NBA. He only needed two more assists and two more blocks to accomplish it. This highlights the evolution of basketball and how statistics are continually rising to new heights. Double-doubles and triple-doubles have become increasingly common, and it is only a matter of time before a quadruple-double is achieved. With exceptional blocking ability and the skills to do everything else, Wembanyama could be the ideal candidate to accomplish this feat.

Only four players in NBA history have achieved a quadruple-double, which is when a player records double digits in four statistical categories in a single game. None of them have accomplished this feat in the 21st century. The last one to do so was David Robinson in 1994 while playing for the Spurs. He recorded 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks in that game. The other three players who have achieved a quadruple-double are Nate Thurmond, who did it in 1974 (50 years ago), with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks; Alvin Robertson, who did it in 1986 and is the only player to achieve it with steals, recording 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals; and Hakeem Olajuwon, who accomplished it in 1990 with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 blocks. It’s worth noting that the last two statistical categories were introduced in 1973-74. Historical figures like Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell could have achieved it with blocks, and others like Oscar Robertson or Jerry West with steals. However, the absence of data from that time in these aspects and the few visual documents make it difficult to corroborate.

Occasionally, players came close to achieving the rare feat of recording a quadruple-double (double digits in four statistical categories - points, rebounds, assists, and blocks) in a single game. Hakeem Olajuwon, known for his ability to block shots, almost achieved it on several occasions. Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan also had notable performances in the Finals, coming close to a quadruple-double. In 2001, before the second-round game against the Sixers, Phil Jackson suggested to Shaq that Allen Iverson was afraid to challenge him when he got into the zone. This comment angered Shaq, and he responded with a legendary performance: 28 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, and 8 blocks. He fell just short of completing the quadruple-double. Two years later, in the sixth and final game of the NBA Finals against the Nets, Duncan achieved a similar stat line: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks. Again, he missed the quadruple-double, but his performance was unforgettable.

Wembanyama could enter this fight

It’s not surprising that he has managed to achieve incredible feats multiple times in a single season. In his first season, he has already won the Rookie of the Year award and has recorded more than 80 steals and 225 blocks, which are unprecedented numbers. He has also achieved two triple-doubles, one of which was against the Pistons, where he scored 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, and the other against the Raptors, where he scored 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocks. In addition, he has recorded a 5x5, which is when a player scores at least 5 digits in the 5 main categories. He accomplished this in a game between the Spurs and the Lakers, where he scored 27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks. This is truly remarkable for someone only 20 years old and shows he can achieve milestones once thought impossible. He is a unique player with an unprecedented physique who has broken all the molds and is beginning to confirm what many predicted - that he is not just a number 1 in the failed draft and the pretensions of greatness that many poured over him were not unfounded. He is more than that - someone special, magical, and mystical—the new unicorn of the NBA.