Nikola Jokic Joins Elite Group with Triple-Double Average

DENVER — Nikola Jokic made history Friday night, becoming the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a full season. The Denver Nuggets center confirmed this feat during a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in his 34th triple-double of the season.

The decisive moment came with less than a minute left in the first half when Jokic registered his 700th assist of the season. This achievement locked in his average of at least 10.0 assists per game, even with one regular season game remaining.

Joining Jokic in this exclusive club are Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson. Westbrook, Jokic’s current teammate, has accomplished the feat four times, while Robertson did it during the 1961-62 season. “It’s nice. I didn’t do that before,” Jokic said after the game, humbly downplaying the significance of the achievement.

Jokic’s unprecedented season includes averages of 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game. He is on track to finish with career highs in points and also aims to reach an average of 30 points per game. To achieve this, he needs 47 points in the upcoming finale against the Houston Rockets.

“When you have a guy like Jokic, who creates so much offense for his teammates, everyone’s going to have really good looks,” said Minnesota coach Chris Finch earlier this month, emphasizing Jokic’s impact on the court.

Jokic’s 34 triple-doubles this season tie him for the fourth most in NBA history. Westbrook holds the record with 42 during the 2016-17 season. As of now, no other player in the league has recorded more than 10 triple-doubles this season.

“If he doesn’t win the MVP, it’s the greatest season of all time not to win the MVP,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelman regarding Jokic’s performance, suggesting a strong argument for him to claim the award once again.

This season marks the first time Jokic has averaged double-digit assists, topping his previous career-best of 9.8 assists per game in the 2022-23 season. With his 164 career triple-doubles, Jokic is just behind Westbrook, who holds the record at 203.

Experts and fans alike are closely watching Jokic’s final game of the season, as he aims to solidify his legacy as one of the greatest in NBA history.