What is a double double in basketball and how is it recorded?

A double-double in basketball refers to a player who achieves 10 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in a single game. This achievement is recorded in the official NBA statistics, which have been tracking double-doubles since the league was established in 1946. The first player to achieve a double-double was George Mikan, a dominant center for the Minneapolis Lakers who scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a game against the New York Knicks on December 17, 1947. Over the years, several players have become known for their incredible double-double performances, including Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In fact, Chamberlain holds the record for most career double-doubles with an astonishing 1,046. Despite the importance of double-doubles in basketball, they are often overlooked as a key metric for evaluating player performance. However, for many fans and analysts, achieving a double-double is still considered a testament to a player's all-around skills and dominance on the court.

In basketball, a double-double is achieved when a player records at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in a single game. This statistical feat indicates that the player has dominated both ends of the court, with significant contributions to their team's scoring and defensive efforts. The term 'double-double' originated from the need to display two distinct metrics on a standard basketball stat sheet, which only allows for two lines to be filled - one for points and one for rebounds. As such, when a player meets or exceeds this threshold, they are considered to have recorded a double-double, marking them as an exceptional all-around performer.