Most dubious attempts in NBA triple-double history
Anthony Bowie's attempt at a triple double isn't the only lowlight in NBA history of players seeking the white whale of statistics. Here are five examples of dubious moments in tripledouble history:
BOB SURA
In April 2004, Atlanta guard Bob Sura was looking for his third straight triple double. He needed only one rebound in the waning seconds and got it when he intentionally missed a layup and grabbed the rebound in a 129-107 victory over the Nets. But the NBA ruled the next day that there was no rebound and no shot, citing a rule that declares “a fieldgoal attempt is a player’s attempt to shoot the ball into the basket.” Sura had admitted he missed the shot on purpose, so it wasn’t an attempt to score.
ANDRAY BLATCHE
In 2010, the Washington Wizards forward needed one more rebound for a triple double against the Nets. But in the final minute, Blatche's reaction upon falling short was priceless. The Washington Post documented Blatche’s antics: Grimacing after being called for a foul on a rebound, agony after new teammate Cartier Martin rebounds a New Jersey air ball and then laughingly apologies, jogs upcourt on a New Jersey fast break until realizing there could be a rebound though the Nets score, and with 4.2 seconds left and the Wizards up 10 points, dribbles frantically the length of the court and throws the ball at the basket, trying to create a rebound, but the buzzer sounds. Blatche lifted up and threw down his shirt in disgust, still shaking his head. Wizards broadcaster Chris Miller suggested that Martin owes him dinner. "He owes me a lot tonight," Blatche said without smiling. "He owes me a lot."
JaVALE McGEE
In March 2011, the Wizards’ McGee missed a foul shot with 3:43 left in a blowout loss to Chicago. And McGee was stuck on nine points, to go with 12 rebounds and 12 blocked shots. McGee tried mightily to score again — he attempted a spin shot in the lane that rolled off, airballed a turnaround jumper, then committed a turnover trying to get a shot off. Finally, with 18 seconds left, McGee got free for a dunk that gave him the triple double and hung onto the rim, receiving a technical foul. “That was the hardest one point I ever tried to make in my life,” McGee said.
NICOLAS BATUM
In November 2013, Portland’s Batum had eight points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the final seconds. So he launched a 40-foot shot at the buzzer, despite a seven-point lead. The shot went in, Batum had his triple double and he apologized almost immediately. “That is maybe the worst thing I’ve done in my career,” Batum said after the game.
RICKY DAVIS
In March 2003, Cleveland had a 25-point lead on Utah, and the Cavs’ Davis had 28 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists. In the final seconds, Davis shot at Utah’s basket and grabbed the rebound. Turns out, shot attempts at the wrong basket don’t count as shots, so Davis got no rebound. But he did get a hard foul from the Jazz’s DeShawn Stevenson. “I was proud of DeShawn and I would have knocked him down harder,” said Utah coach Jerry Sloan.