Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić has secured his place in NBA history by becoming the third player to average a triple-double for an entire season.
The Serbian center achieved the milestone on Friday night during Denver’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies, where his fourth assist brought his season total to 700, ensuring he would average at least 10.0 assists over 70 games.
Jokić joins an elite group of players in achieving this feat, alongside his Denver teammate Russell Westbrook—who accomplished it four times—and Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who first achieved it during the 1961-62 season.
The assist that solidified the record came late in the first half on a Christian Braun basket, which was initially uncredited but later updated at halftime. Jokić finished the game with a triple-double, recording 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists in Denver’s 117-109 victory.
For the season, Jokić is averaging 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists, achieving career-best marks in scoring and three-point shooting while remaining a leading contender for the MVP award. He has more triple-doubles this season (34) than the next three players in the league combined, with no other player exceeding 10.
Jokić is also the second player in NBA history to record 30 or more triple-doubles in a single season, a feat only matched by Westbrook. With two games remaining, Jokić needs 73 points to push his scoring average to 30.0, which would make him just the third player in NBA history to average a 30-point triple-double in a season.
Having already amassed 164 regular-season triple-doubles in his career—second only to Westbrook’s 203—Jokić continues to redefine the standard for versatility and excellence in the NBA.
