What is a Double Double in Basketball? Complete Guide

Basketball is a highly professional, dynamic, and competitive game. It is easy for us to understand; “what is a double double in basketball?” when we are basketball players. As you know, I am a basketball player and have been playing basketball for the last ten years. My teammates often ask me how they can achieve double-double in basketball.

In my experience, a double-double in basketball involves five statistical categories: score, rebound, assist, steal, and block. The player who wants to achieve the double-double must complete two of these five statistical categories by game performance.

American former NBA player John Shedd introduced the term double-double in the 1980s. Tim Duncan is the NBA player who holds the record for 841 double-doubles in NBA history. It is commonly used when we achieve exactly two of five major statistical categories in a single match or several games throughout the season. It allows us to check our performance immediately after one basketball game. Explore the article: “What is a double-double in basketball?”

What is a Double Double in NBA Games?

National Basketball Association (NBA) explain, “what is a double double in basketball?” It states that, the two statistical achievements out of five gained by basketball players in NBA games is called double-double in basketball.

It can be achieved by a single player in a game in 48 minutes (four quarters of 12 minutes) of the given time. Extra time is also included in NBA games, and a player has more chance to perform by showing his skills on the court.

The double-double is a relatively common achievement in basketball sport. Many players of the NBA and WNBA have achieved double-doubles in higher competition games. The results show that 262 players have completed at least one double-double and 2,162 double-doubles throughout the 2022-23 season.

The National College Physical Education Association (NCAA), high school basketball, and junior high school federation players can achieve double-doubles by improving their skills on the courts. 

How to Achieve a Double Double

Basketball players must understand, “what is a double double in basketball?” before games. Generally, basketball players have strong physical conditions and confidence to achieve double-double in games. When we play basketball, scoring a goal is the easiest way to reach double digits, but other skill sets like rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks are challenging to achieve in games. If we have strong rebound capabilities, it can quickly increase our points by securing an offensive rebound, allowing them to score on second chances.

The higher competition games demand great power and skills combination from us to achieve double-doubles in basketball. However, Big Man often wins the most points and rebounds, with the most double-doubles. The combination of scores and assists is most common among NBA players. Double-doubles with steals and blocks are very rare in the basketball world.

Points

Point is an essential factor in achieving the double digits in basketball. A Double-double is a much-needed achievement in the basketball world, and we can achieve it by commanding one of the other four basketball skills. Earning double-digit points during a match is our most effortless achievement and is often the first category we will achieve in a game. 

The regular training of skills increases consistency in our performance in games. If we consistently score double-digit points in every match, it will significantly increase our chances of achieving a double-double in NBA courts.

Professional basketball players often score 10 points or more at halftime or even in the first quarter. Taking a double-double score is unnecessary, but it is important to note that it will undoubtedly increase the confidence to achieve more double figures in basketball.

Rebounds

What is a double double in basketball? Scoring ten rebounds in one game is much easier for the tall basketball players. Positions like center and power forward can often record more than ten rebounds per game. They are well-built, stand up, and have been under the basket for most of their time.

Typically, the center will have more chances to take a rebound than a power forward. Rebound not only gives us a second chance to score but also prevents the opponent’s score and gives us a valuable advantage.

Assists

Assists are essential for achieving a double-double in basketball. As professional players, we must recognize the importance “what is double double in basketball?” in games. When we generate a high number of assists, we are, in turn, contributing to the success of our team’s attacks, which may bring additional rebound opportunities for ourselves.

Point Guard and Small Forward are where support points are most likely to be raised, as we often handle the ball on the court. Some of the most famous players in basketball history have scored the most doubles, making it an impressive achievement for any player.

Steals

Steal is when a defender takes the ball away from an opponent player. If we can take more than ten steals in one game, it is equivalent to half of double-doubles in NBA games. Steal can also contribute to the scoring division, often leading to fast-break opportunities and easy baskets.

Scoring ten steals is very difficult for us in today’s game. No NBA team in the 2018-2019 season scored an average of more than ten steals per game (not just one player) as a team. Stealing is one of the most challenging factors to score ten points in the game.

Blocks

A double-double is a challenge for all basketball players to achieve in one game. It means we have to record two digits in two statistical categories: score, rebound, assist, block, and steal. Recording a block ten times is as difficult a task as ten steals. Taking the 2018-2019 NBA tournament as an example, the team that earned the most saves on average in one game was the Golden State Warriors. However, they have only 6.2 blocks on average per game.

The block can boost the team mentally, change the momentum, and provide a defensive advantage. In other words, incorporating blocks into the game plan is a smart choice for a player who wants a double-double.

Other statistical achievements in basketball

Understanding the different types of double digits can significantly strengthen us for offense and defense strategy. Some similar-named achievements follow the same principle as double-doubles: 

Triple Double

Triple double is one of the most impressive achievements in basketball. Triple double refers to the statistical feat of us when we record double digits in three different categories during a game.

The number of triple-doubles in each NBA season varies with time, and certain outstanding players may have won most of them. For example, Russell Westbrook has recorded 101 triple-doubles from the 2016-17 season to the 2018-19 season, which accounted for more than 28% of the 352 triple-doubles recorded during that time.

Quadruple Double

The achievement is called a quadruple-double when we win two digits in four or more statistical categories in one NBA game. It is an incredibly rare achievement in only a handful of NBA history. The statistics counted for quadruple double include scores, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Only a handful of NBA players have achieved this feat since the first record in the 1973-74 season. The NBA’s first official quadruple-double was recorded by Nate Salmond in 1974. However, there is a theory that Wirt Chamberlain unofficially achieved a quadruple-double against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Division Final in 1967.

Quintuple Double

In basketball, a quintiple-double is when we record double digits in a single NBA game in three statistical categories: scoring, rebounding, and assisting. But the quintuple double is a whole new level.

Some claim that Wirt Chamberlain achieved a five-double in 1968 before steal and block were officially recorded, but this has never been done professionally. While it is infrequent for a single NBA game, some players have achieved a quintuple-double throughout the NBA season.

FAQs

How does a double-double work in basketball?

A double-double in basketball works when a player performs only two of five major statistical categories during the game. The categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Completing a double-double is a common achievement for players in NBA games.

Who recorded the most double-doubles in NBA history?

Duncan is the NBA player with the record for 841 double-doubles in the history of the NBA. It is the record-breaking achievement of a double-double by a single player in NBA competition games.

What is a triple-double in NBA basketball?

In NBA basketball, when players achieve three of five major statistical categories, points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, during the game is called a triple-double in basketball. It isn’t easy to achieve a double-double in basketball.

Conclusion (What is a double-double in basketball?)

In conclusion “what is a double double in basketball?” a double-double is a significant achievement that basketball players aim to achieve in games. It includes Points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. The player who performs these two of five statistical figures will receive double-doubles in basketball. The double figures help players to check their performance in a single game. The player who wants to achieve a double must command at least two statistical figures in games.