Nikola Jokic just quietly tied Oscar Robertson for second all-time in career triple-doubles with 181 - and somehow, that milestone got buried beneath the trade deadline frenzy and the Knicks’ latest implosion. But make no mistake: what Jokic is doing this season isn’t just historic, it’s redefining what we expect from a modern big man.
Only Russell Westbrook stands ahead of him now with 207 triple-doubles. At the pace Jokic is moving, that gap could close as early as next season. And when it does, he won’t just be the new king of the triple-double - he’ll be the most versatile big man the game has ever seen, statistically speaking.
The list of names Jokic is climbing past reads like a Hall of Fame roll call: Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Jason Kidd, Larry Bird. And while Luka Doncic - with 88 triple-doubles - is the only active player even in shouting distance, Jokic is operating on a different level right now.
Jokic’s Best Season Yet - And That’s Saying Something
Here’s the wild part: this might be Jokic’s best statistical season yet, and that includes three MVP campaigns already under his belt. Even after missing 16 games with a knee injury, he’s on track to qualify for the NBA’s leaderboards - and once he does, he’ll be leading the league in both rebounds per game (12.1) and assists per game (10.5).
That’s not just rare - it’s unprecedented. No one in NBA history has ever finished a season leading in both categories.
He’s also putting up 29.1 points per game, the second-highest scoring average of his career. But it’s the advanced metrics that really hammer home how absurdly efficient he’s been.
Take PER (Player Efficiency Rating), for example. Jokic is posting a 35.4 - nearly three full points higher than his previous best.
And remember, he’s already the all-time leader in PER. So, we’re talking about the best season from the most efficient player in NBA history.
But it doesn’t stop there. He’s also pacing the league in Win Shares per 48 minutes (W/S48), a category he’s dominated five of the last six seasons. And he’s having career-best years in both Offensive Box Plus/Minus (OBPM) and overall Box Plus/Minus (BPM) - two more advanced stats where, again, he’s already the all-time leader.
Still Getting Better - And Still the Key to the Nuggets' Repeat Hopes
It’s one thing to be great. It’s another to keep getting better after three MVPs and a championship.
Jokic is doing both - and doing it with surgical precision. His game is a masterclass in timing, vision, and control.
He doesn’t just rack up numbers; he bends the game to his will.
For the Nuggets, the path to another title still runs through Jokic - but his supporting cast will need to stay healthy. If Denver can secure a top-three seed in the West, Jokic will be in prime position to capture MVP number four. And with the way he's playing, it wouldn’t just be deserved - it might be inevitable.
At this point, it’s not just about the numbers or the accolades. It’s about appreciating a player who’s not just making history - he’s changing the way we think about what’s possible on a basketball court.