Top 5 Triple-Double Leaders Among NBA Rookies

Followers of the NBA have seen some brilliant rookie campaigns throughout the years.
This year has been no different.
NBA rookie, Ben Simmons, for example, had himself a pretty spectacular regular season. The Philadelphia 76ers’ 6-foot-10-inch starting point guard is already a statistical phenomenon in just his first season of action. He averaged 16 points, 8.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, including averaging a triple-double through the Sixers’ franchise-record 16-game winning streak to close out the regular season.
Simmons hasn’t just seen individual success, however; he is part of a young team with loads of talent that is showing promise sooner rather than later. Thanks in large part to their aforementioned 16-game winning streak, the Sixers rallied to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings — a notable feat for such a young squad. After a five-year drought, the Sixers finally secured another playoff berth and even look poised to potentially make a deep run in the East. Go Philly!
Let’s shift our focus back to Simmons now. Only one other rookie in NBA history has put up the numbers Simmons put up this year: Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. If you’re mentioned in the same sentence as Robertson, you’re doing good — really good. Just ask Russell Westbrook. As early as it is in Simmons’ professional playing career, he’s already found himself in rare company. We see you, Ben!
The similarities between Robertson and Simmons don’t stop there. Both men recorded multiple triple-doubles as rookies in the league. Their historical rookie campaigns put them on the top-five all-time list for most triple-doubles ever recorded by an NBA rookie. Simmons is No. 2 on the list; Robertson is No. 1.
Below, I’ve added the other three players who make up the list, rounding out the top five. Scroll down to see history. Enjoy, NBA nerds!
No. 5 Tom Gola
Rookie Season: 1955-56
Triple-Doubles: 5
*Hall of Fame
No. 4 Alvan Adams
Rookie Season: 1975-76
Triple-Doubles: 5
No. 3 Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Rookie Season: 1979-80
Triple-Doubles: 7
*Hall of Fame
No. 2 Ben Simmons
Rookie Season: 2017-18
Triple-Doubles: 12
No. 1 Oscar Robertson
Rookie Season: 1960-61
Triple-Doubles: 26
*Hall of Fame
Now, who’s watching the NBA playoffs?!?! Tune in to see Simmons and the Sixers do their thing in the postseason. The City of Brotherly Love is back!