It’s Been 30 Years Since the NBA’s Last Quadruple-Double. Will We See Another Soon?
There are several reasons for the league’s quadruple-double drought—and one giant reason it may soon come to an end
The Rarity of Quadruple-Doubles
The quadruple-double is one of the rarest statistical accomplishments in NBA history, with only four officially on record. However, there would likely be more if the NBA had started recording blocks and steals earlier. The last quadruple-double was achieved by David Robinson 30 years ago.
The NBA is currently experiencing a boom in triple-doubles, with the league reaching triple digits in triple-doubles in each of the past seven seasons. However, the fifth quadruple-double has yet to emerge. But a new player has emerged as a strong candidate to achieve this feat: Victor Wembanyama.
Factors Contributing to the Drought
Quadruple-doubles have become even more unlikely due to a decline in outlier defensive performances across the league. Since the 21st century, there have been only 35 games in which a player recorded double-digit blocks or steals, averaging about 1.5 per season. This decline in block averages has reduced the frequency of quadruple-double opportunities.
Additionally, most players capable of achieving 10 steals in a game struggle to reach 10 rebounds, while players capable of 10 blocks rarely come close to double-digit assists. This makes finding the right balance of skills and versatility for a quadruple-double candidate extremely challenging.
Potential Candidates for a Quadruple-Double
Analyzing the top individual candidates to achieve a quadruple-double highlights the difficulty of this accomplishment. While players like Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander possess impressive skills, they lack the ideal all-around game to regularly reach double-digit assists. Most top candidates have never collected eight blocks or steals in a game.
However, Victor Wembanyama stands out as a strong candidate due to his exceptional shot-blocking ability and developing passing skills. In his rookie season, Wembanyama has already shown proof of concept with 10 blocks in a game and high steal totals. With his trajectory, it wouldn't be surprising if he makes a legitimate quadruple-double attempt in the future.
