What’s More Impressive, Triple Double or 40 Point Game?

[Hussien Fatal]

I’m not sure of the number as to which is more common but if I had to guess I would think there are more triple doubles in NBA history than 40 point games, but I could be wrong.

Obviously it is way more easy to get a triple double and a 40 point game in todays NBA vs the Past and im sure the numbers would support that as well. But I’m interested to see your opinions on this.

What do you think is more impressive?

[chilluminati]

Triple Double is more indicative of a better overall game, so I'll take that. 40 pt games can be exciting, but I feel like it's surface level impression compared to a trip dub.

[timO]

40-10-10

[HoopsterJones]

The answer is Jokic

[Hobo4President]

Now probably a triple double but neither are as impressive as they were 10 years ago.

[NZB2323]

It totally depends. Are we comparing a 10-10-10 stat line to a 40-0-0 stat line?

[Jadoogar]

It totally depends. Are we comparing a 10-10-10 stat line to a 40-0-0 stat line?

In this case, i would take the 40 points (provided decent efficiency)

[NyKnicks1714]

What's more impressive? Having back-back i's in your last name or having a j that sounds like a y? This isn't about anyone person or persons in particular.

[Kingdibs19]

Triple double as long as it’s not Westbrook.

Stealing boards, rondo assists and 30 points on horrible efficiency is not impressive and does not contribute to winning.

[ty 4191]

I’m not sure of the number as to which is more common but if I had to guess I would think there are more triple doubles in NBA history than 40 point games, but I could be wrong.

There have been 4,933 40 point games in NBA history. There have been 3,268 triple doubles.

Obviously it is way more easy to get a triple double and a 40 point game in todays NBA vs the Past and im sure the numbers would support that as well. But I’m interested to see your opinions on this.

Last two seasons, including playoffs, there have been 262 forty point games. There have been 209 triple doubles.

What do you think is more impressive?

The triple double is far more rare, even in today's game, and ergo, more impressive.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Triple doubles have lost their value and meaning ever since Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo been doing them. Same goes for 40-point games, almost every player is getting them one in every seven or eight games or so (I'm fudging that fraction because Statmuse is giving me trouble with my responses, and Basketball-Reference's advanced search filter requires paying for a subscription). Even a 50-point game feels ho-hum.

Here are the things I feel would be the most impressive. Not just because they've never been done before, but they could be curse breakers to their team's first berth or NBA championship:

1. A 100-point game - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) did it, but there's no video evidence as his game vs. Knicks in 1962 was never televised. There is an audio recording, but only for the fourth and final quarter. Nobody would ever believe that a player can reach that high, but we were 19 points close thanks to Kobe Bryant's (R.I.P.) 81-point game vs. Raptors in 2006. Let's see a 100-point game in modern times, with actual video evidence to prove that it can be done. No need to break the record, meeting it is dandy.

2. A quintuple double - It is rumored that Chamberlain (again, but Philadelphia 76ers this time) achieved a quintuple double vs. Lakers in 1968. Blocks and steals (24 and 11, respectively) did not make it into the NBA stat sheets until 1974, and spectator Harvey Pollack believed Chamberlain could have had more. Quadruple doubles exist, achieved by four players (two Spurs, one Rockets, one Bulls), but these feats have not been replicated since 1994. This also goes for the eight players who were one tally away from a quadruple double. Let's see a player become the first to pull off a quintuple (or quadruple) double in the new millennium.

Let's see some Herculean feats.

[Cubbies2120]

Simple math:

Triple Doubles 2023: 77 (Source - https://www.landofbasketball.com/year_by_year_stats/2022_2023_triple_doubles_rs.htm)
40 Point Games 2023: 108 (Source - https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-most-40-point-games-2023)

[Cubbies2120]

It totally depends. Are we comparing a 10-10-10 stat line to a 40-0-0 stat line?

In this case, i would take the 40 points (provided decent efficiency)

What if all 10 assists were to 3 point shooters?

[JN61]

Clearly scoring 40 these days is easier.

[AdagioPace]

The answer is Jokic

brutal. Let's give Hussien some hope at least (even if he has to disguise threads )

[KyRo23]

There's been more 40 point games this season than triple doubles. So I guess triple doubles are more impressive? I don't know anymore. I wish neither was an option

[MrGoat]

Kind of depends on the FG%

[Bornstellar]

Not enough context to give a real answer imo. Is it a 10/10/10 triple double? Is it a 20/20/20 triple double? Did the other player score 40 on putrid efficiency or did he do it on 12 shots? Too hard to answer in a vacuum

[GSWFan1994]

C) Neither

(for nowadays standards)

[Bergmaniac]

The one which Embiid achieves more often, obviously.