On This Day (March 3)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on March 3.

Dream Does It All

On this day in 1990, the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon compiled 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, nine assists, and five steals in a 129-109 win over the Golden State Warriors. Since the NBA began tracking steals and blocks in 1973-74, it is one of only two instances in which a player recorded a triple-double and a five-by-five* in the same game. The first instance came on March 10, 1987, also by Olajuwon.

* A five-by-five occurs when a player records at least five of each of the following: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

This was one of six career five-by-fives for Olajuwon, three more such games than any other player (Andrei Kirilenko, 3). It was also one of 10 career triple-doubles in which Olajuwon recorded at least 10 blocks. The only other player to record 10 such games is Dikembe Mutombo.