Bottomless Scum, Limitless Power

On April 2, 1987, the Celtics, then at the height of their powers, faced the relatively weak Washington Bullets.

The gap in strength between the two sides was so vast that "Larry Bird" casually put up a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the first half, then put on quite a show after the game.

It was also the first time since the NBA began keeping detailed statistics in 1985 that a player had recorded a triple-double in just one half.

Kevin Johnson might have been the most successful of all players who entered politics after retirement. After retiring from the NBA in 2000, he eventually became mayor of Sacramento in 2008, undoubtedly the crowning moment of his life.

As a player, however, Kevin Johnson's career highlight came in February 1997.

In a game against the Suns, Johnson recorded a triple-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists in just one half, ultimately helping his team cruise to a lopsided victory.

This man, who had once nearly made rookie Iverson cry, was also the second player after Larry Bird to record a triple-double in only one half.

After that, the record lay buried for more than a decade.

During that time, Jordan retired and returned, the Lakers dynasty swept through the league like a storm, the golden generation of '96 rose and fell, and prodigies like LeBron James emerged.

Yet no one ever managed another half-time triple-double.

Not until 2010, when "Mr. Triple-Double" Jason Kidd suddenly erupted in the second half of a February 17 game against the Hawks, posting 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to become the third player in NBA history to achieve a triple-double in one half.

Kidd was already in the twilight of his career then, and naturally could