On the list of rare statistical accomplishments, the 5×5 stat line represents an extraordinary display of broad impact in one game. When you’re perusing the NBA scores and box scores a 5×5 would be five statistical categories with at least five in each – technically not including turnovers. In other words a 5 by 5 is when one player records at least five points, five rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and five steals in a single game.
The 5x5x5x5x5 achievement is rarer than the more familiar triple-double due to the difficulty of accumulating blocks and steals. And still even rarer than the triple-double with blocks which has happened more 70x in NBA history.
In fact, since the NBA began recording blocks and steals in the 1973-74 season, only 22 instances of 5x5s have been recorded in regular season play. The great Hakeem Olajuwon dominates this super unique statistic with six appearances on the list, and uniquely achieving a triple-double alongside a 5×5. Andrei Kirilenko is the only other player with multiple 5×5 games. Kirilenko and Olajuwon are the players that have come closest to the near-impossible quintuple-double. Hakeem is one of four players that have completed a quadruple-double.
The first 5×5 was recorded by George Johnson. Here’s a full list of those players:
Player | Team | Season | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George Johnson | New Jersey Nets | 1978 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs | 1979 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Julius Erving | Philadelphia 76ers | 1979 | 28 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1987 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 12 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1990 | 29 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 11 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1992 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs | 1992 | 29 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Derrick Coleman | New Jersey Nets | 1993 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1993 | 33 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1993 | 24 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 1993 | 34 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
Vlade Divac | Los Angeles Lakers | 1995 | 19 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Jamaal Tinsley | Indiana Pacers | 2001 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 5 |
Andrei Kirilenko | Utah Jazz | 2003 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
Andrei Kirilenko | Utah Jazz | 2003 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Marcus Camby | Denver Nuggets | 2004 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
Andrei Kirilenko | Utah Jazz | 2006 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 |
Nicolas Batum | Portland Trailblazers | 2012 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | 2015 | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Anthony Davis | New Orleans Pelicans | 2018 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Jusuf Nurkić | Portland Trailblazers | 2019 | 24 | 23 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | 2024 | 27 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs | 2024 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Victor Wembanyama, the young generational player with the Spurs, is the latest and youngest to achieve this rare feat. Since his 5×5 against against the Lakers, he’s come really close the next few games. And looks like the 7-4 French star is likely to record many more. On Oct 31st, 2024, he recorded his second 5×5 of his young career joining Kirilenko (3x) and Olajuwon (6x) as the only NBA players to have achieved multiple 5×5 stat lines in their careers. Look for Wemby to continue stuffing the basketball scoresheet.
College Basketball 5×5
In the NCAA, there are way more players and yet the games are eight minutes shorter than the NBA. These factors haven’t increased the College basketball odds in terms of 5×5 instances. In fact, Syracuse’s 6-8 Sophomore Maliq Brown recently squeaked in a 5×5 against Louisville with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 6 blocks. According to Twitter, that’s only the third time in the last 15 years of college basketball.