Russell Westbrook is poised to retire as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles; however, it is conceivable that he may not hold this title by the conclusion of Nikola Jokić’s career with the Denver Nuggets.
The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jokić recorded a notable performance of 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists on Thursday in a contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking the 139th triple-double of his professional career. This achievement propels him ahead of the esteemed Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers for the third-most triple-doubles in NBA history.
Only Westbrook, with 200 triple-doubles, and Oscar Robertson, with 181, exceed Jokić’s current total.
While it is uncommon for accolades to be designated for third-place achievements, Jokić appears to possess a viable opportunity to surpass Westbrook’s record, although it is not a requisite for him to attain a statue in his honor. Presently, Westbrook has 61 more triple-doubles than Jokić, yet Westbrook is 36 years old, while Jokić is 29. This age differential provides Jokić ample opportunity to accumulate the requisite statistics to solidify his place in history.
Since earning his first MVP title, Jokić has recorded 85 triple-doubles over the course of four complete seasons and has accomplished nine triple-doubles in just 17 games this season. This impressive rate, which equates to approximately 27.3% of the games played, suggests that Jokić would need to participate in roughly 223 games to surpass Westbrook’s total, equating to less than three seasons.
Barring any significant injuries or an unexpected decline in performance, Jokić appears to have a strong chance of achieving this milestone.
The pursuit of this record is a mere aspect of a season in which Jokić yet again emerges as a frontrunner for the MVP award. His candidacy is not solely predicated on his remarkable statistical production; his influence on his team is unmistakably significant.
Despite Jokić’s continued outstanding performance, the Nuggets are encountering challenges this season, currently holding an 11-9 record following their defeat to the Cavaliers. The team continues to feature its star players, yet has experienced a degree of attrition since securing the championship title in 2023, particularly with the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown. Identifying satisfactory replacements has proven to be a formidable task.