This day in history: Wilt Chamberlain drops a double-triple-double
In February, the NFL season is coming to a close, the NBA is nearing the All-Star break and the NHL has just begun. College men’s and women’s basketball is also nearing everyone’s favorite time: March Madness. I think it’s safe to say plenty is going on for sports fans to enjoy. On this day in history Feb. 2, Wilt Chamberlain recorded the only Double-Triple-Double in NBA history.
On Feb. 2, 1968, Chamberlain led the Philadelphia 76ers against the Detroit Pistons. The 76ers were having a great season as they were 39-15 heading into this game. However, this would turn out to be a game that would go down in history. Chamberlain, who is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, had one of the greatest single-game performances of all time. Chamberlain ended with a stat line of 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists.
A triple-double is when a player finishes with ten or more stats in three of the major statistical categories, mainly points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Triple-doubles are impressive for any player but breaching 20 in three of these categories is astonishing. Chamberlain doubled the normal stats needed for a triple-double hence why his statistical achievement is known as a “double-triple-double.”
Chamberlain’s career was truly incredible as he is one of the most talented players to ever touch a basketball court. He is almost a mythical being in the basketball world as a lot of his numbers sound impossible to achieve in today’s modern eras. His 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists are an achievement that might not ever happen again in the NBA.
More information on the double-triple-double game
Chamberlain had 22 points shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-12 from the free throw line. This performance was good enough to edge the Pistons out 131 to 121. This is the only recorded double-triple-double in NBA history, but it is rumored that Chamberlain may have had multiple of these games.
Chamberlain is one of the greatest scorers of all time, but he was also a terrific defensive player. He is known for having games with asinine blocks and steals numbers. Chamberlain may have had games with 20 blocks as well as 20 points and rebounds. However, the NBA did not start keeping track of blocks and steals until the 1973-1974 season. Unfortunately, this was the year he retired so he never had the chance to have an official block or steal stats.
Nevertheless, Wilt Chamberlain’s double-triple-double on Feb. 2, 1968, will go down as one of the greatest games in NBA history.
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