As two of the most versatile players ever, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird could have both earned triple-doubles during one of their storied NBA Finals matchups.
But it never happened.
During Game 5 of the 1987 Finals, though, they came relatively close to accomplishing the feat. The Boston Celtics cut the Los Angeles Lakers series lead to 3-2 with a win, and Johnson was two rebounds away from recording a triple-double, per Basketball Reference; Bird was three assists away from achieving one.
30 years after 1987, Steph Curry and LeBron James would etch their names in history as the first two players to record triple-doubles in the same Finals game, per Elias Sports Bureau. Curry and James remain as the only two players who have ever achieved this milestone.
On June 4, 2017, Curry and the Golden State Warriors defeated James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132-113, in Game 2 of the Finals. Curry scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 11 assists on his way to his first playoff career triple-double, per Basketball Reference.
Curry’s other playoff triple-double came during Game 4 of last season’s Western Conference Finals. He scored 37 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and tallied 11 assists as the Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers.
James led the Cavs in scoring, rebounding and assists during that 2017 game. He poured in 29 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished 14 assists. Per Stat Muse, James has the second-most playoff career triple-doubles (23) in league history. He is right behind Johnson, who has 30.
With Curry and James both having quality performances, the Warriors didn’t encounter much pressure from the Cavs throughout the series. Cleveland only took Game 4, and the Warriors closed out the series in five games on June 12.
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