The Kings huge man put up an 11-point, 13-rebound efficiency in Sacramento’s 108-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. It was the 54th recreation in a row that Sabonis achieved double-digit totals in two statistical classes, and because of his 10 assists, he additionally recorded his twenty fifth triple-double of the season on Monday.
That is the most double-doubles for the reason that NBA-ABA merger of 1976. Kevin Love had a streak of 53 double-doubles within the 2010-11 season, the earlier longest stretch of double-doubling.
Nevertheless, that pales compared to the pre-merger file of 227 straight double-doubles, held by Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt the Stilt has the 4 longest single-season, double-double streaks and 7 of the ten longest single-season streaks of all time.
Lakers broadcaster Mychal Thompson took situation with calling Sabonis’ accomplishment a file, citing his personal “Mychal Math.”
Why is there a cutoff on the merger? It isn’t attributable to any guidelines modifications made when 4 ABA groups joined the league, for the reason that NBA did not undertake the three-point shot till the 1979-80 season. Moderately, it is a quirk of statistical record-keeping.
Whereas the ABA all the time tracked statistics like blocked photographs, steals, turnovers and distinguished between offensive and defensive rebounds, the NBA did not do it till the merger. That is why there is no file of Chamberlain’s shot-blocking, which might doubtless have given him much more double-doubles, to not point out triple-doubles and quadruple-doubles.
It isn’t like separating out pre-1900 statistics in baseball, excluding from the file video games the place dwelling plate wasn’t but five-sided, pitchers stood solely 50 ft from dwelling plate and bats did not should be spherical. The “for the reason that merger” disclaimer on the hardwood limits Sabonis’ achievement to an period wherein getting double-doubles is arguably simpler.
It is nonetheless fairly an accomplishment to do one thing no participant has for 47 years. Sabonis is having an excellent yr and main the NBA in triple-doubles. But it surely’s truthful for one to argue that his achievement is not actually a file. It falls into the wide selection of improbable basketball accomplishments that also should be certified as issues nobody has achieved “apart from Wilt Chamberlain.”
