Most Triple Doubles in NBA History: Wilt Chamberlain, James Harden, and More

A triple double is an uncommon and elite accomplishment in basketball. However, a few of them have made this a consistent occurrence. The most common make from NBA when discussing this feat are Magic Johnson, Nikola Jokic, and Russell Westbrook.

In recent times, Nikola Jokic has emerged as a player capable of surpassing legends like Chamberlain in this domain. Today, we are going to explore such players with the most triple doubles in NBA history.

What is a Triple Double?

The league first officially started recording the triple double statistic in the 1979-80 season. The triple double is a stat line that poses itself as an aspiration for many basketball players, exemplifying well-rounded greatness in rebounds, points and assists. However, very few of such aspiring players get to achieve this stat line in their career. So when a player reaches double digits in three of these categories, it’s called a ‘triple double’.

It is considered an elite stat for the players because it shows that the player can cover both ends of the court. Also, it requires court vision to implement the plays during a game. Some elite defenders can achieve this feat through steals and blocks, though it is quite rare in the world of the NBA. Holding this record is more than a statistical milestone- it’s a rare distinction that reflects prolonged excellence, superior skill and versatile contribution at the highest level of the game.

Top 10 Players with Most Triple Double in NBA

Maintaining a triple-double on a consistent basis is an indication of a player's great talent and overall dominance on the court. Let’s take a quick look at the top most triple doubles in NBA history.

The NBA Triple Double leaders started emerging after the 1979-80 season. In the current era, the number of triple doubles is increasing every day. But only some of them are able to repeat this feat and stand long in the top 10 rankings for the most triple doubles all time, according to official NBA data.

#10: Domantas Sabonis (68 triple-doubles)

The Sacramento Kings center, Domantas Sabonis, currently ranks 10th on the all-time NBA Triple-Double leaders. He has stacked up 68 triple-doubles, out of which 67 came during the regular season, while one came during the playoffs. In the 2024-25 season, Sabonis has scored 9 triple-doubles so far. Out of his career triple-doubles, Domantas has demonstrated significant performance both at home and on the road, with 33 triple-doubles while playing at home and 34 on the foreign court or while playing on the road.

Among his many accomplishments, Sabonis is the first player since 1965 to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists in one game. He also has one of the quickest triple-doubles in NBA history with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in only 20 minutes and 59 seconds of action. Sabonis's consistent overall play has brought him multiple honors, including pacing the league in rebounds and earning All-NBA Third Team selection in back-to-back seasons.

#9: Wilt Chamberlain (78 triple-doubles)

The NBA Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain is ranked number nine on the all-time triple-double leader list as he has 78 triple-doubles during his NBA career. The Goliath holds the record for twice recording a 25-point triple-double with 100% field goal shooting, which later became a tie when Nikola joined the league.

Chamberlain and Nikola Jokic are the first and only players in NBA history to achieve a triple-double in back-to-back Playoff series. The most doubles notched by him are 22 during the 1966-67 and 31 in the 1967-68 seasons with the Philadelphia-76ers. This feat was the second most in a single season in league history. He assisted in the NBA in the 1967-68 season, an unprecedented achievement, surpassing even the league’s best guards. His dominance on the court solidifies his legacy as one of the all time NBA triple double leaders.

#8: James Harden (80 triple-doubles)

Till February 26, 2025, James Harden has scored 80 triple doubles in his NBA career, continuing to maintain his reputation as one of the most consistent players in NBA history. His skill hard achieved due to his ratings, passes and backlash has produced unforgettable results throughout his career. This incredible performance helped the Houston Rockets achieve a 114-107 victory over the Orlando Magic, setting a new franchise record for most points in a single game. It was the night that showed Harden's abilities would take over the game in any possible way. In this important game, Harden helped the Rockets to win with excellent performance and demonstrate their ability to handle pressure. The 2015 16 season was particularly impressive for him when he recorded 22 triple-double games for Rocket, marking the highest number of single seasons of his career. This performance highlighted the skills to play elite and lasting effects on several teams.

From determining records to increasing teammates with precise steps, Harden's triple double reflects his all-around brilliance.

#7: Luka Doncic (82 triple-doubles)

Luca Doncic continues to make himself into NBA history with his impressive all-round appearances. Until February 25, 2025, he scored his 82nd triple double double in the regular season in a game against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers. This milestone will rank seventh on the NBA list for all triple season triple doubles. Before he came to the Lakers, his final triple double came with the Mavericks on December 15th, 2024.

In the season in 2024, he already scored four triple doubles and showed his consistency in the square in his previous NBA career on the pitch. This includes 10 in the offseason, and further proof that you can deliver when the mission is best. His unusual ability to make a big contribution to ratings, relaxation and assists has made him one of the league's most versatile players. His triple double counts continue to increase in many seasons that are likely available before him. His journey from Dallas to Los Angeles Lakers marks only another chapter that develops into a legendary career.

#6: Jason Kidd (107 triple-doubles)

Jason Kidd is widely known as one of the biggest NBA triple double leaders, and his triple double pointers are evidence of his all-round excellence . During his 19th NBA career, Kidd played in 1,391 games and recorded an impressive 107 triple doubles during the regular season. Its overall count, including the playoffs, has risen to 118, with 11 in the postseason highlighting his ability to perform at crucial moments.

All of his achievements this year have impacted, reminded him of his ability to pursue and recover, making him a constant triple-double threat. During his career, including the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, he played for several teams, but a significant portion of his time was spent at the Brooklyn Nets (formerly known as the New Jersey Net). Kidd joined the Nets and led the team to back-to-back NBA Finals in the early 2000s. His skill to consistently perform in all areas without focusing solely on scoring made him one of the most well-rounded players of his era. Jason Kidd's legacy as a triple double score machine remains a key part of his Hall of Fame career.

#5: LeBron James (122 triple-doubles)

LeBron James has recorded 122 regular-season triple-doubles, while his career triple-double mark is at 151. In the 2024-25 season, he has recorded 10 triple-doubles so far. His performance improves if he is playing away from the home court because he has made 79 triple-doubles in his career playing on the road.

He made the most number of triple-doubles while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017-18(18). LeBron James has built a legendary career on consistency, versatility, and longevity. With over 110 triple-doubles and counting, he’s the only player in NBA history to record a triple-double against all 30 teams, an evidence to his all-around dominance across the opponents, Standing 6’9” with elite court vision, power, and basketball IQ, LeBron has seamlessly shifted between roles—scorer, facilitator, rebounder, and defender, depending on his team’s needs.

#4: Magic Johnson (138 triple-doubles)

Magic Johnson has recorded 138 regular-season triple-doubles in his career. If we include his postseason triple-doubles as well, the count will increase to 168. He played in 13 NBA seasons while representing the Los Angeles Lakers. The most triple-doubles he recorded came during the 1988-89 season (17).

Magic has been regarded as the best point guard by fans and critics alike for a while now, as his flashy passes mixed in with his revolutionary court vision. He burst onto the scene in 1980 by winning Finals MVP as a rookie, famously playing centre in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and delivering a 42-point ,15-rebound historic performance.

#3: Nikola Jokic (164 triple-doubles)

The Joker from the Denver Nuggets is the modern-day powerhouse of basketball. He has been quickly climbing up the ladder of the All-Time Triple Double leaders list because he has already recorded 164 regular-season triple-doubles. Including his playoff appearances, his triple-double rises to 179. In his ten-season stint within the league, while playing for the Nuggets, he recorded the most triple-doubles(29) in the 2022-23 NBA season.

Also, he is more dominant on the home court because he has recorded 105 triple-doubles in his career there. He has redefined the centre position in the modern age basketball era, becoming one of the most unique playstyles ever to be observed in basketball. Known as the Joker, Jokic doesn't rely on his explosiveness-instead, he mesmerizes with timing, footwork, and elite basketball IQ. The Serbian man blends the scoring of a forward, the passing vision of a point guard, and the rebounding prowess of a dominant post player. Jokic routinely leads the Nuggets in points, rebounds, and assists, a testament to his all-around dominance. Unlike past centers who lived in the paint, Jokic plays like a point-center-running the offense and anchoring the team on both ends.

#2: Oscar Robertson (181 triple-doubles)

Oscar Robertson’s career triple-double record is 181, which he achieved between 1960 and 1974. He played for the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks. He was the first player to average a triple-double in a season in 1961–62. The Big O’s record stood firm for 47 years until Russell Westbrook shattered it in the 2020–21 season. During the 1961-62 season, he recorded the most triple-doubles (41) in his career in the NBA while playing for the Cincinnati Royals.

He played a pivotal role in shaping the players' rights movement, even suing the NBA to prevent an unfair merger and help players gain free agency. A winner of the Larry O'Brien trophy in 1971 with the Bucks alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, his legacy is both statistical and societal-one of the true pioneers of basketball. His records were so impressive that they stood untouched for 50 years and even had the managers in shock. In the 1961-1962 season, Robertson averaged an incredible 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists, becoming the first one ever to achieve this phenomenal feat.

#1: Russell Westbrook (203 triple-doubles)

As of February 2025, Russell Westbrook holds the NBA record for the most triple-doubles in NBA history with 203. He’s been the most triple doubles all time leader since May 2021, when he surpassed Oscar Robertson’s previous record of 181. He recorded the last triple-double on January 10, 2025, while playing against the Brooklyn Nets. With 215 triple-doubles across both the regular season and playoffs, he holds the record for the most triple doubles in NBA history. He was consistent with his triple-double streak while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the past.

During that period, he recorded 42 triple-doubles in the 2016-17 season. But in the current season, he has only recorded 3 so far. Russell Westbrook leads the way with an unmatched record of 215 Triple-Doubles. Known for his relentless intensity, explosive athleticism, and unmatched motor, Westbrook turned the triple-double into a nightly expectation during his prime.