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Oscar Robertson - The King of triple doublesIt’s a shame if any talk of triple doubles goes down without the mention of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple double if stats from his first five seasons in the league were strung together. With averages of 30.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 10.6 assists he accumulated a career 181 triple doubles, a tally that no player has come close to.With seven of the eight triple doubles registered in the past couple of weeks, triple doubles have become the talk of town and it would be unfair not to mention the “Big O” before we go ahead with this piece. So without further ado, here are top 5 current NBA players most likely to register a triple double:
Also read: Players with most Triple Doubles in NBA History
#5 Blake Griffin
It’s been four complete seasons since Chris Paul arrived in Los Angeles to sign with the Clippers. Signing a marquee free agent like Paul helped the Clippers not only become a perennial Playoff team but also legitimate championship contenders. The past couple of seasons however Paul’s body has taken some flak being on the wrong side of 30, shifting the team’s focal point on offense to an ever evolving Blake Griffin.
Every year Griffin would showcase a new facet of his game that he had worked on over the summer. One year it was his jump shot and the next it was ability to attract the help defense and lob it up to center DeAndre Jordan, making the Paul-Griffin pick and roll ever so deadly. What’s made Griffin the superstar he is, is the ability to carry the team to a win when Paul is out due to injury concerns.
He showed that skill over multiple stretches in the regular season when Paul was down, yet the only time the world noticed was when he took the Clips to a 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets in the Conference Semis with Paul either not playing or playing less than half the game.
His season averages are 26.6 points, 9 rebounds and only 4.3 assists but when the call arrives (the Clippers starting back court is out injured), Griffin steps up his game, like he did against the Detroit Pistons. Recently he led his team to a win over the Pistons registering 34 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, with both Paul and J.J. Redick out.
#4 LeBron James
If Scottie Pippen showed the essence of versatility with his ability to guard all positions from one to four back in the 1990’s, LeBron James redefined it by being able to play and defend multiple positions on the floor. In his current stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the ball runs through him almost every possession that he is on the floor. He plays any position while on any part of the floor that he wants.
Despite being in his 13th year in the league, James has not lost his shine if anything he keeps getting better and better. He can run the offense from the top off the key, he can post up and draw double teams and he can also be the primary offensive weapon at times. Barring reigning league MVP Stephen Curry, LeBron James has the most impactful presence on the floor in the league.
Through 10 games this season he is averaging 27 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Nobody else in the league averages that kind of numbers, which is a testament of his impact on the team and the game. Although he carries a lot of responsibilities while on the floor, he seems do it at an effective rate as he is among the top 5 in PER (Player Efficiency Ranking) with 28.06 so far this season.
He fell just one rebound short of his first triple double of the season in a Cavs 107-100 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He currently ranks 7th in NBA’s career triple double list with 36 to his credit.
#3 Draymond Green
In the span of one season Draymond Green went from being the back-up forward for David Lee to the second most important player for the reigning NBA Champions- the Golden State Warriors.
His ability to hurt you on the floor in multiple ways is what makes him so crucial for the Warriors. He can shoot the three and at the same time he can drop a floater while running into the lane, he can defend Small Forwards and at the same time can guard the opposition’s center.
His highly underrated playmaking skills are a huge reason the Warriors are on a 11 game winning streak to start the season. A huge part of his effectiveness and growth goes to captain and teammate Curry and here’s why:
On his pick and roll play with Curry, the latter’s effective shooting from long range attracts both players towards him, leaving Green with the responsibility of making a smart decision with the Warriors outnumbering their opponents 4 to 3.
His superior ball handling allows Golden State to run some plays for Curry with off-ball screens giving wide open looks. The team’s small line-up with him at the center is the one of the best, if not the best line-up in the league on both ends of the floor.
He has already registered a triple double this season (16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists) against the Brooklyn Nets. Nonetheless with season averages of 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Green has narrowly missed out on adding two more triple doubles to his tally this season.
#2 Rajon Rondo
Has the Sacramento Kings’ gamble of signing Rondo to a one year deal paying off? Is Rajon Rondo of old really back? Can Rondo keep up this kind of form?
A lot of questions right now surrounding Rondo’s current form with the Kings, form that is very similar to his dominant days with the Boston Celtics from 2011-13. After a torrid half season stint in Dallas with the Mavericks, Rondo is enjoying a re-birth of sorts in Sacramento. Given his talents and the talent on the roster surrounding him, Rondo’s current form should no flash in the pan.
In the last 5 games, the Kings have gone 3-2 with Rondo averaging 13.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 14 assists.
His speed and agility are a huge part of his game and help with all the facets required to register a triple double. He can blow by almost any guard in the league and is a nifty finisher at the rim, he ranks among those few guards who are really aggressive on the glass and last but not the least, in prime form he can set up teammates like probably no other point guard in the league.
With three triple doubles in the last five games, Rondo leads the league with his tally. Along with DeMarcus Cousins, Rondo can really carry this Kings team to heights the front office might not have envisioned when they signed him in the summer.
#1 Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has 13 triple-doubles since the start of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, the most by any player in the league. At this rate can he among the top 5 or top 10 players in the history books for most triple-doubles?
Statistically speaking, Oklahoma City Thunder have a record of 9-4 when Westbrook has registered a triple-double. However what must be more noteworthy is that 11 of the 13 triple doubles have come when former league MVP Kevin Durant was out with injury.
Also, Westbrook is not very efficient at shooting when he registers a triple double. Debating how he can get better when he registers triple doubles is a case of the player not getting his due credit.
Since Durant is dealing with a hamstring strain, there are chances of Westbrook recording another triple double, so let’s talk about how he does it. One of the toughest stats for guards to achieve a triple double is rebounding and if you thought Rondo was aggressive on the glass, Westbrook is a more explosive version of the former Celtic.
Given his talents, scoring is not an issue for the former UCLA representative and with the talent assembled around him, kicking the ball out off of his penetration to open teammates, helps him rack up the assists.
He is the only player in the league to have multiple games with 40+ points and 12+ assists. He has the highest rebounding average among guards in the league with 7.7. He currently trails Rondo for triple-doubles this season but keep your eye out for this explosive reigning All-Star Game MVP.
Guess the Lakers players!
