2010 Black History Month: #22 Black Sports Moment - Quadruple Double

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #22 Black Sports Moment

Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson Record Quadruple Doubles

Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for an entire season, and never accomplished this feat (NBA didn't record steals and blocks until '73). Michael Jordan and Bill Russell are the two greatest basketball players of all-time and neither could pull it off. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game, averaged 50 for an entire season, led the league in assists another, and still was unable to reach this plateau.

A quadruple double.

Double-digit totals in four different statistical categories. It's happened four times in the NBA, with two of them qualifying for this list.

David "The Admiral" Robinson went for 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks, and 10 assists in 1994 against the Detroit Pistons. Hakeeem "The Dream" Olajuwon got his in 1990 against the Milwaukee Bucks when he recorded 18 points, 16 boards, 11 blocks, and 10 assists.

You have to be a completely well-rounded player in order to achieve this almost un-reachable feat. Points, rebounds, and assists are the prototypical ingredients for a triple-double, but a big man will almost certainly have to get his fourth category in block shots, while a guard will look to steals for his.

In 1974, the Chicago Bulls' Nate Thurmond was the very first NBA player to record a quadruple-double, and Alvin Robertson followed suit in 1986 (unfortunately it was five months shy of Matt Barnes being born).

There have been several players approach this historic quad, such as Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaq, and Chris Paul, but only four times has it actually gone down.

Four times in 35+ years of NBA basketball. The twist is that anyone can do it. It's not like Wilt's 100 points, or Oscar's triple-double average. On any given night, a person could put up a quadruple-double. What makes it such an occasion is the rarity in which it does. Four times.

The Dream and The Admiral are two of the best NBA players of the 1990s. They were both athletic big guys who could do anything you asked of them. I'd give the offensive nod to The Dream, and the defensive advantage to The Admiral. You can't think of 1990s NBA without these two being near the fore-front of your mind.

Will we see another quad? It's been more than 15 years since The Admiral accomplished it, and it might be another 15 more.

Hint for #21: Same sport as #22, but are polar opposites. #21 happened in college instead of the pros. #21 was one shot instead of one game. #21 is about one little guy instead of two big men.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."