Nikola Jokic makes NBA history as first center to average a triple-double for a season

Nikola Jokic has secured his place in NBA history, becoming the league’s first center — and just the third player ever — to average a triple-double across an entire season.

The milestone was confirmed during the Denver Nuggets’ 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. With his fourth assist of the game, Jokic officially locked in the feat, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists. It marked his 34th triple-double of the season, the fourth-most in a single campaign in league history.

Heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale, the three-time NBA MVP is averaging career-best numbers in points (29.8) and assists (10.3), along with 12.8 rebounds per game. With 164 triple-doubles in his career, Jokic sits second on the all-time list behind teammate Russell Westbrook, who holds the record with 203.

"It's nice," Jokic said after the victory over Memphis. "I didn't do that before. I don't know. I don't know what to say. It's good."

Westbrook was the last to accomplish the feat, averaging a triple-double in four seasons — including three straight with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2016 to 2019, and again in 2020-21 with the Washington Wizards. The legendary Oscar Robertson was the first to do so in 1961-62 while playing for the Cincinnati Royals.

Reflecting on Jokic's historic achievement, Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said, "If he doesn't win the MVP, it's the greatest season of all time not to win the MVP."

SportsLigue