NBA Today: 5 players who can average a triple-double next season

The current NBA boasts of some of the greatest stats stuffers in the history of the game. With more and more focus on position-less basketball, there are players who are dominating the stats charts for their respective teams.

But a triple-double average for a season means that a player should average double digits in at least three of the categories for the entire season.

Russell Westbrook has achieved this feat on three consecutive occasions. Despite that, this is one of the toughest feats to achieve in NBA. Before Westbrook, only Oscar Robertson managed to average a triple-double for the season.

Even someone like a LeBron James with such a versatile and all-round game has never come close to achieving this feat.

There are only a handful of players who are even capable of thinking of achieving the same. Here are the players in the current NBA who can average a triple-double next season:

#5 Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic was a rookie sensation for the Mavs last season. He missed out on making the first team of the All-star game by just a couple of votes.

Doncic has a very well-rounded game. He plays at the point guard position for the Mavs and is the primary ball-handler. He is also good at the boards and managed to have several triple-doubles last season. Doncic showed maturity and poise beyond his age in his rookie season and rightfully won the Rookie of the Year award.

Doncic finished the season with 21 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6 assists. With his usage rate bound to increase in the sophomore season, we can expect increment in all the categories. If things turn out perfect for Doncic, he might have a chance at the triple-double next season.

#4 Ben Simmons

Toronto Raptors v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six

Ben Simmons is a 6 ft 11 inches point forward. He is as skilled a playmaker as any in the NBA. Simmons has been a triple-double machine right from his rookie season in the NBA.

Simmons has a massive height advantage over any other point guard. He also plays an inside game which allows him to grab lots of offensive rebounds. With other offensive weapons available with the 76ers, Simmons can turn his attention to other facets of the game. He will be the primary ball-handler and that can help him to get double-digits assists.

Simmons averaged 17 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game for the season. His all-round game means he is a triple-double threat in almost every game that he plays. The 76ers point guard just signed a massive contract with the team and will be looking for a fantastic season.

#3 Nikola Jokic

Portland Trail Blazers v Denver Nuggets - Game Seven

Nikola Jokic is the best big man playmaker in the league today and arguably in NBA history. He guided the Denver Nuggets to a second-place finish in the Western Conference last season and fell just one game shy of reaching the Western Conference finals.

Jokic was a superstar in the playoffs. He looks set to have a MVP caliber next season. Playing at the Power forward position or the Center position gives him the advantage of finishing with double-digit rebounds and being the best passer and the primary ball handler of the team also allows him to get plenty of assists.

Jokic averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the season. The Nuggets will again be heavily reliant on his performances. We can expect Jokic to have a career year next season.

#2 LeBron James

LeBron James is statistically the greatest player in NBA history. He is the only player in the NBA history to average more than 30K points, 8K rebounds and 8K assists for the entire career. He is also the youngest player to cross the 30K points tally.

James has a great all-round game. He impacts the game on all fronts. He is also a great playmaker and ends up making most of the plays for his team.

Despite getting injured and not playing at his peak level, James averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists for the entire season. The Lakers don't have a great point guard in their team for the next season.

There are already rumors that James will be their starting PG. James has also openly stated about his desire to average a triple-double for a season. Can next season finally be that season for King James?

#1 Russell Westbrook

Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Lakers

Who else than the man who has done on three consecutive occasions? Russell Westbrook plays with 100% intensity and effort in every single game.

Since the departure of Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook went berserk. He needed to handle most of the responsibilities of the team and his usage rate became all-time high.

Westbrook averaged 23 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists during the 2018-19 season. He averaged triple doubles in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 NBA seasons also. For his effort in the 2016-17 season, he was also awarded with the league MVP trophy.

But Westbrook is no longer with the Thunder. He now plays for the Houston Rockets alongside James Harden. Harden is another player with a very high usage rate. It will be very interesting to see if Westbrook can manage to keep his streak alive.

Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee