Olajuwon Records Quadruple-Double

On March 3, 1990, Hakeem Olajuwon, then known as Akeem Olajuwon, briefly records a quadruple-double in a 129-121 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Hakeem Olajuwon (left) with teammate Clyde Drexler (right) in 1990 on the Houston Rockets.

Olajuwon compiled 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, nine assists and five steals. However after the game, members of the Rockets’ scoring crew went back and reviewed the tape of the game. They decided that he had not been rightfully given an assist on a first quarter shot by Buck Johnson, so they have him the tenth assist.

With the updated stat Olajuwon had recorded a quadruple-double, which only two others had done before him, Nate Thurmond and Alvin Robertson. It was short lived though as NBA vice president Rod Thorn looked over the game and decided to remove the additional assist.

The decision would have been a bad footnote in Olajuwon’s career, however just 26 days later Olajuwon recorded a quadruple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks, going for 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks and 10 assists – that quadruple-double was league approved.