NBA

Quadruple-double: List of NBA players to achieve the rare feat

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David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Nate Thurmond are three of only four players ever to record a quadruple-double

A quadruple-double is recorded when a player finishes with 10 or more in four of the five major statistical categories such as points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. 

In NBA history, this feat has been achieved only four times and they have all come within the 20-year span of 1974 to 1994. All of these quadruple-doubles came in home wins with all but one of the four players being big men who stood 6-foot-11 or taller.

Three different NBA franchises have recorded a quadruple-double in their history books with the San Antonio Spurs being the only one to have two.

Here's a closer look at every quadruple-double in NBA history. 

Nate Thurmond - Oct. 18, 1974

Nate Thurmond Chicago Bulls

Stat line: 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, 12 blocks

In his first game for the Chicago Bulls, Thurmond made NBA history.

In a 120-115 overtime win at the Chicago Stadium over the Atlanta Hawks, Thurmond became the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. 

A player who averaged 15.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists over his 964 career games, the 13 assists were a career mark. 

Voted later to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history, Thurmond played 14 seasons in the league, 11 of which came for the San Francisco/Golden State Warriors. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985, he has seven All-Star and five All-Defensive selections (two First Team, three Second Team) to his name.

Alvin Robertson - Feb. 18, 1986

Alvin Robertson Spurs

Stat line: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals

The only guard on this list to have ever recorded a quadruple-double, the 6-foot-3 Robertson put on a show in a 120-114 win at the HemisFair Arena against the Phoenix Suns. 

The quadruple-double was recorded in his greatest individual season. In 1985-86, he was named Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year while also receiving an All-Star selection (one of four in his career) and his lone All-NBA selection (Second Team). 

Robertson was one of the best defenders in the league and recorded his quadruple-double with steals, not blocks. Over the course of his 10 years in the league, five of which he played for the San Antonio Spurs, he was named to six All-Defensive Teams (two First Team, four Second Team) and was a three-time steals champion. 

His steals average of 2.71 over 779 regular season games is an NBA-best. 

Hakeem Olajuwon - March 29, 1990

Stat line: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, 10 assists

Four years later, Olajuwon became the third player ever to record a quadruple-double.

In a dominating 120-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks - who had Alvin Robertson on their roster - the Houston Rockets center stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks and 10 assists.

Having said that, Olajuwon came mighty close to separating himself from this group. Earlier in the month, he fell one assist shy of a quadruple-double in a win over the Golden State Warriors when he finished with 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks and nine assists. 

Not only is Olajuwon among the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history — he is the all-time league leader for career blocks with 3,830 — but he is also among the greatest players ever. 

David Robinson - Feb. 17, 1994

Stat line: 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 blocks

Robinson is the fourth member of this group and the last player in the NBA to record a quadruple-double.

Robinson did so against the Detroit Pistons at the Alamodome in a comfortable 115-96 victory.

Robinson capped off that season by scoring 71 points in the season finale, which proved essential to clinching the scoring title - the only one of his career.

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