A double-double is defined as a performance in which a player accumulates a double-digit number total in two of five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a game. The most common double-double combination is points and rebounds, followed by points and assists. Double-doubles are fairly common in the NBA. During the 2008–09 season, 69 players who were eligible for leadership in the main statistical categories recorded at least 10 double-doubles during the season.

Special double-doubles are rare. One such double-double is called double double-double (also referred to as 20–20 or Double-20). It occurs when a player accumulates 20 or more in two different statistical categories in a game. Another such double-double is called a triple double-double (also referred to as 30–30).