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Some sporting achievements serve as litmus tests of greatness. Enter the humble triple-double. A stat line so famous that Ice Cube f*cked around and got one last week. And yes, apparently, it was a good day.
Yet, in the entire history of the NBA, only 82 players have ever recorded a triple-double. From Oscar Robertson’s historic 1963-64 season (the first ever to average one over a full season) to the one and only ‘Dray Money Mayweather.’ Nothing about Draymond Green is ordinary, so why would his triple-doubles be?
On February 11th, 2017, in a 122-107 Warriors win over the Grit ‘n’ Grind Grizzlies, Green posted a stat line from another dimension: 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and a bewildering 10 steals. Most would assume this secured him a place in the legendary quadruple-double club, population: four. But here’s the twist: Green had only 4 points on 6 shots.
After the game, Green stated, “I’ve got to bring it on the defensive end. “A lot of guys on this team can score. We don’t need me to score.” Had he scored 10, Green would have become just the second player in NBA history to notch a quadruple-double with steals instead of blocks, joining the Spurs’ Alvin Robertson.
It’s worth noting that the NBA only began officially tracking steals and blocks in the 1973-74 season. So who knows? Legends like Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell might have already achieved a quadruple-double, it just wasn’t officially recorded.
Out of the four players who officially hold the quadruple-double, one stands out as pivotal to the stat’s future. The legendary list includes Alvin Robertson, and then the “blocks club”: Nate Thurmond, David Robinson, and, crucially, Hakeem Olajuwon. For years, fans believed Olajuwon was the most likely to achieve the feat twice, a player so transcendent that no one batted an eye when he was drafted ahead of Michael Jordan. Sorry, Blazers fans, Sam Bowie still doesn’t cut it.
Olajuwon came agonizingly close to making it happen on March 3rd, 1990. The box score credited him with 9 assists, but Rockets staff, reviewing the tape, believed they’d spotted an uncredited feed to Buck Johnson in the first quarter. It should have been the fourth double-digit category.
NBA vice president Rod Thorn reviewed the footage and ruled otherwise. The official line stayed at 9 assists, erasing the would-be quadruple-double. The LA Times called the performance “somewhat tainted,” and the media moved on.
Hakeem had a dream. Rob Thorn robbed it. But 26 days later, redemption came. On March 29th, 1990, at The Summit, Olajuwon finally claimed what had been taken from him: 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 blocks, no debate, no revisions, a pure quadruple-double. Had that assist to Buck Johnson counted, “The Dream” would be the only player in NBA history with two. Damn.
So why is Hakeem pivotal to the future of the stat? Even decades after retiring, and despite a Raptors tenure that feels like an NBA Mandela effect, his legacy points to one name: Victor Wembanyama.
The 7’6” extraterrestrial from France has already built himself an impressive trophy cabinet: Rookie of the Year, All-Defensive First Team, and a one-time All-Star. But there’s one accolade that demands attention: two-time blocks champion. The first came in his historic rookie campaign, the second in his sophomore year. That season, Wemby played just 46 games. Yet, despite missing nearly half the year, he still led the league in blocks, comfortably.
That already makes the Frenchman a walking quadruple-double hazard. With court vision and playmaking instincts that rival Olajuwon, Wemby can do it all. The closest he’s come so far was on April 2nd, 2024, when he posted 23 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, and 9 blocks against the Nuggets, just 2 assists and 1 block shy of the mythical four-double mark.
However, this past summer, Wemby’s offseason looked more like a martial arts montage than a training schedule. He worked with a range of mentors and environments, from Shaolin monks in China (complete with photos straight out of The Karate Kid) to Kevin Garnett, who shared his trademark intensity and unconventional wisdom.
“Working with KG was super interesting,” Wemby said. “He’s got a very unique perspective on relationships with teammates, opponents … even refs and media.” In all fairness, we still haven’t forgiven him for Mother’s Day, but we’ll let it slide.
Then came the main event: Hakeem Olajuwon. In early September 2025, Wemby completed four gruelling 2½-hour workouts with “The Dream,” a generational passing of the torch more than two decades in the making. Under Olajuwon’s guidance, he adapted the iconic “Dream Shake” and post moves to his own game, while sharpening the versatility that made Hakeem a legend.
Oddsmakers have started to take notice too. Several sportsbooks now list a Wembanyama quadruple-double at +700 to happen this season, shorter odds than some MVP favourites. That’s how real the possibility has become.
So, is the league cooked? Not quite. The Thunder still exist, and parity’s alive and well. But on an individual level, we might be witnessing something historic. In just a few short seasons, Victor Wembanyama could own one of basketball’s rarest records, the all-time leader in quadruple-doubles.
