LeBron Did Not Have the First Triple-Double in Men’s Olympic Basketball History

LeBron had his most complete effort of these Olympic games, registering 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in Team USA’s 119-86 quarterfinal triumph over pesky Australia. The Aussies, who were led by Patty Mills (26 points) sliced the deficit to three in the 3rd quarter, but Kobe – who snapped out of his recent funk with 20 points – caught fire to turn the game into another rout.

Next up: Argentina, in a rematch from Monday’s testy affair. The game is Friday at 4 pm EST. The other semifinal pits Russia against Spain at noon EST.

LeBron’s triple double was believed to be the first in men’s Olympic basketball … not so fast, my friend. According to John Grasso:

On July 27, 1976 Aleksandr Belov of the Soviet Union had the first one. He had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a game against Canada.

If the name Aleksandr Belov rings a bell, that’s because he scored the “winning” basket in the fixed 1972 Olympic gold medal game. He died in 1978, either from a heart attack or “not of natural causes.” [via Larry Coon]

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19 Responses to “LeBron Did Not Have the First Triple-Double in Men’s Olympic Basketball History”

Nada Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:06 PM

/ OT

Gina Gershon. (SFW)

That is all.

ImJustSayin Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:08 PM

So……Lebron is not clutch because he wasn’t born early enough to get first Olympic triple-double.

Nada Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:12 PM

On July 27, 1976 Aleksandr Belov of the Soviet Union had the first one. He had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a game against Canada

Neither instance officially counts as a triple-double, because they came against Australia and Canada. Only stats compiled against non-lily-white nations count.

cleet Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Ireland gets their first gold of the games in women’s boxing. Usually it’s their women who take the beating.

/I kid, drinks all around on the emerald isle tonight

sousedbergin Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:18 PM

On July 27, 1976 Aleksandr Belov of the Soviet Union had the first one. He had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a game against Canada.

That should not count for anything.

molemaninthemorning Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Canada was only in the tournament because it was in Montreal and they were automatically qualified. Biggest asterisks on the NFL in the last ten years.

sousedbergin Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:21 PM

Ireland gets their first gold of the games in women’s boxing. Usually it’s their women who take the beating.

They have a medal for each million in population.

Suck it America, China and wow do you suck at everything India.

Nada Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:23 PM

Ireland gets their first gold of the games in women’s boxing. Usually it’s their women who take the beating.

Fiona Glenanne breaks the mould.

Nada Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:26 PM

For Spencer:

Did they get this correct? I’ve been considering giving him another chance, based on your say-so.

ohheelyeah Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:36 PM

If the name Aleksandr Belov rings a bell, that’s because he scored the “winning” basket in the fixed 1972 Olympic gold medal game.

I knew the general consensus of what transpired, but after reading the wiki page for the last 30 minutes I am completely floored as to what happened. Good lord we got hosed.

cleet Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:44 PM

ohheel making an appearance on a different IP address?

HtownHacker Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:44 PM

I thought ohheelyeah got bounced? Honestly, the commentariat leans too far to the left around here. Balance is good.

cleet Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:45 PM

Honestly, the commentariat leans too far to the left around here. Balance is good.

I think a lot of people who don’t espouse far right leanings are labled as lefties. I’m an independent in the middle.

St. Bear Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Honestly, the commentariat leans too far to the left around here. Balance is good.
I think a lot of people who don’t espouse far right leanings are labled as lefties. I’m an independent in the middle.

I think generally the lefties are more vocal, and anything said that could be construed as right get singled out by them.

cleet Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 12:52 PM

I think generally the lefties are more vocal,

Perhaps, depends who gets the ball rolling. Some righties like to jump in. Too bad Husker doesn’t come back around here, always enjoy him and MikeNYC going at it.

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 1:14 PM

No one reported him having the first triple double in Olympic history. It has been accurately reported that he has the first triple double in U.S. Olympic history.

José Pippen Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 1:27 PM