NBA Records: The 5x5

A 5X5 in NBA terms is a reference to a record in which one player records five tallies in five different categories. The typical 5X5 consists of a player getting at least five points, five assists, five rebounds, five blocks, five rebounds, and five steals in one game. Please note that blocks and steals were not tallied before the year 1972, eliminating the possibility of a 5X5. The 5X5 was not developed until the year 1990 and has been counted ever since. As of 2008, a 5x5 has only been done thirteen times in 18 years. An even more amazing feat is that only seven players have had one.

Hakeem Olajuwon was the most dominant when performing 5X5's. He had a total of six of them ranging over six years. However, he had three of them in the 1993 NBA season. He was also the first person to officially record a 5X5, which was performed in 1987. Andrei Kirilenko is second on the list. He is currently playing, but has recorded three of them. He is also the last person, as of 2008, to have recorded a 5X5. The other players that have had a 5X5 are David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs in 1993, Derek Coleman of the New Jersey Nets in 1993, Vlade Divac of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1995, Jamaal Tinsley of the Indiana Pacers in 2001, and Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets in 2004.

The first known 5X5 was done by Hakeem Olajuwon playing for Houston. He tallied 38 points, seventeen rebounds, six assists, twelve blocks, and seven steals. This is, by far, the most impressive 5X5. His thirty-eight points are the highest point total for any 5X5 performed. His twelve blocks are also tied for the highest. His steal total of seven were the second highest, too.

Andrei Kirilenko, who has been the face of the record recently, has done it three times - once in 2006 and twice in 2003. Kirilenko and Olajuwon are the only players to record 5X5's with all statistics above five. Kirilenko's first 5X5 in 2003 recorded eight steals - the highest amount recorded.

Marcus Camby's 5X5 had him tally only eight points, the only one that hasn't reached double figures in scoring. There have been two 5X5's in which a player has had exactly five in three different categories. Olajuwon's first 5X5 in 1993 only had him tallying five assists, blocks, and steals. The other one consisted of five rebounds, assists, and steals by David Robinson.

The 5X5 is considered one the hardest achievements to make. The reason for this is the versatility needed by the player. The player needs to be active on the offensive side in order to score the five points, which shouldn't be hard. They need to be tall enough to record five rebounds and alert on the defensive end to get the five blocks. The player also has to be quick with their hands and feet in order to get the five steals. Finally, they need great court vision to distribute the ball and tally the five assists.

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