Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic sets another remarkable milestone
Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic added another historic feat to his illustrious NBA career by becoming the third player to average a triple-double for an entire season.
Jokic joins his teammate Russell Westbrook and Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in accomplishing that. Westbrook did it four times, while Robertson did it once.
“It’s nice. I didn’t do that before,” Jokic said postgame when asked about averaging a triple-double via ESPN. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. It’s good.”
Jokic earned that feat after posting his 34th triple-double of the season with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in Friday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He is now tied for the fourth-most triple-doubles in a season in league history.
Only Jokic and Westbrook have posted north of 10 such performances in a single campaign.
It puts more spotlight on his chances to secure a fourth regular-season MVP award. The pursuit of the vaunted honor is presumed to come down between Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander is putting forth a remarkable season, averaging a league-best 32.7 points along with 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
His play has helped elevate the Thunder securely in the top spot in the Western Conference and potentially the best record in the league.
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Meanwhile, Jokic is third in scoring with 29.8 points and second with a career-high 10.3 assists, shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and a career-high 41.4 percent from 3-point range.
The Nuggets are jockeying for position for the fourth seed in the West heading into the regular season finale.
