Last night, Kevin Love set the record for the most consecutive double doubles since the ABA-NBA merger back in 1976. His 16 point, 21 rebound performance was his 52nd straight double double, breaking the previous mark held by Moses Malone. Up next for Love is the all time record of 55, which is held by Elvin Hayes.
Looking at the players who have managed to get 50 consecutive double doubles, all are members of the NBA Hall of Fame. The eight names - Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, and Bill Russell - are all part of the truly elite in basketball history. Love, who is only in his third season, has already positioned himself amongst the best ever.
Over his career, Love has come close to averaging a double double each season, missing in his rookie campaign when he averaged 11.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. For this season, Love is averaging 20.8 points and 15.8 rebounds. And he is only 22. Imagine how much better he could get, as he gains experience and more knowledge of the game and the players.
There is no indication that Love is close to slowing down in his pursuit of the record. In fact, he is picking up these statistics with ease, typically having his double double by halfway through the third period. Why can't Love get to 60 straight? There doesn't appear to be anything stopping him.
The problem for Kevin Love is that he plays on a truly abysmal team in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his statistics and transcendent performances, the Timberwolves are 16-50. How much worse would that team be without him? For his sake, the Timberwolves need to get dramatically better, or he should demand a trade to a team that will actually compete. His abilities and talents are being wasted in what may as well be basketball Siberia.
Congratulations to Kevin Love on his partial record. Let's see if he can get the next four.
Actually, the record is 227ish (by Wilt, of course). It's stupid the way the NBA picks and chooses which pre-merger records to count and which not to. While Love's double double streak is amazing, and I'm not trying to discredit him at all, he still needs to go 2 more seasons getting double doubles in every game to get the record.
ReplyDeleteI did think that the number of 55 was very low, given how Wilt could basicly stand near the basket and walk into a double double. Unfortunately, research on a couple of different sites came up with the 55 number. It *is* ridiculous how the NBA seemingly just makes up records. It would be like baseball ignoring everything fron before 1920 as having not occurred.
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