Vote Now: Who's next to pick up a triple-double at the Olympics?

TOKYO (Japan) - The records have been the talk of the town in the Saitama Super Arena. With the monster numbers in today's basketball, it shouldn't be a surprise if somebody picked up a Games-time triple-double.

Throughout Olympic history, there have been only two registered triple-doubles. Keep in mind that the assists and the rebounds made the boxscore back in the 1970s, meaning there could've been other triple-doubles, but due to limited resources of the times, we cannot confirm them.

The first triple-double happened during the Montreal 1976 Games. The FIBA Hall of Fame member Alexander Belov obtained it, he of the  most famous layup in the history of Olympic basketball to give Soviet Union gold in Munich in 1972. Belov had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 100-72 win over Canada in Montreal, to write his name once more into the history books.

The only other triple-double happened in London in 2012. LeBron James sent the USA to the Semi-Finals with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in their win over Australia (119-86). The superstar also had a steal and finished without a turnover in 30 minutes of work.

Who could get the third one? Give us your vote.

 

 

Tomas Satoransky (CZE)

The Czech Republic arrived in Tokyo to open up their Olympic account in basketball and their star has looked like someone whose waited their entire life to get onto this stage. Satoransky filled out his statline with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals, and it's hard to see him going 2-of-14 from the field in two consecutive games.

A triple-double by Satoransky would go a long way in helping Czech Republic against powerhouses like the USA and France that await in their Group Phase play.

Bam Adebayo (USA)

Speaking of Team USA, it could be anybody from their star-studded lineup. Draymond Green has 30 career triple-doubles, Kevin Durant just had a 49-point triple-double in the NBA Playoffs. Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum have all achieved the feat at least once in their careers.

But with the way Gregg Popovich wants his team to play, Bam Adebayo could be the best bet. Adebayo had 12 points and 10 rebounds against France, but he was the ballhandler in transition. This could lead to more Bam-made assists in the upcoming games.

Luka Doncic (SLO)

No need to waste words here. Just a reminder that Doncic had 31 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists in the Final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lithuania.

Joe Ingles (AUS)

A tall man who can run the ball distribution duties? Sounds like the perfect combination to be a triple-double threat. It's crazy that Ingles is yet to record a triple-double in the NBA when he was so close to getting one at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists during the Boomers takedown of Senegal.

Ricky Rubio

The MVP of Spain's path towards world gold looked as comfortable as ever running the point in Tokyo. Rubio had 20 points and 9 assists in just 22 minutes of work against Japan. It has to be mentioned here, if for no other reason, that his FIBA U16 European Championship numbers won't be reached any time soon.

Young Rubio had a quadruple-double in the Semi-Finals as a 15-year-old.  He then backed up that performance by  putting up an insane 51 point, 24 rebound, 12 assist and 7 steal statline in the U16 Final against Russia back in 2006. Including this shot from halfcourt to force overtime...

 

 FIBA