Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic made NBA history in Friday's 149-141 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns.
In 45 minutes, Jokic scored 31 points, grabbed 21 rebounds and had 22 assists. According to Michael Kelly of the Associated Press, the 6-foot-11 Serbian star is the first NBA player with a triple-double of at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists. Kelly added Jokic tied his team record for triple-doubles in a season with 29.
In a postgame news conference, Suns forward Kevin Durant, who scored 29 points in the loss, gave props to Jokic.
"I'm actually surprised he hasn't done this before," Durant told DNVR Nuggets (h/t Yahoo Sports).
Kevin Durant figured Nikola Jokić had already had a 30-20-20 game in his career
(via @DNVR_Nuggets) pic.twitter.com/38noHe2BAT
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 8, 2025
31 POINTS.
21 REBOUNDS.
22 ASSISTS.
THE FIRST-EVER 30+ PT, 20+ REB, 20+ AST GAME IN NBA HISTORY
NIKOLA JOKIĆ IS TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL. pic.twitter.com/I982bZePiF
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2025
Fans have grown accustomed to Jokic generating ridiculous numbers throughout his career. Per Basketball Reference, the 30-year-old has 159 triple-doubles in nine seasons with the Nuggets, the third most in NBA history behind Oscar Robertson (181) and Russell Westbrook (202).
Through his first 57 games this season, Jokic has averaged 28.9 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game and 10.6 assists per game. He could still win his fourth MVP, but he may need to make up some ground.
As of Saturday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Jokic's MVP odds at plus-220, second behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (minus-300).
Through his first 61 games, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring (32.8 PPG). Still, Durant wouldn't count Jokic out of the MVP race.
"No, he's not a - stop it. I'm not gonna let you keep doing that, man," Durant said, via The Denver Post's Bennett Durando. "Jokic is never an underdog, man, in any situation. Stop."
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This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM.