Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic entering Wilt Chamberlin territory as MVP campaign builds momentum

Regardless of a 125-102 loss to the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic recorded his ninth triple-double of the season, ending with 25 factors, 15 rebounds and 14 assists.

Jokic now strikes to seventh on the all-time listing behind Wilt Chamberlain. 

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This was Jokic’s second consecutive triple-double following a 17-point, 13-assist and 12-rebound efficiency in a blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night time. And very similar to the triple-double on Saturday, Jokic recorded his triple-double in opposition to the Jazz early within the second half. 

Jokic has joined James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and James Harden as the one gamers to file three consecutive triple-doubles at the very least twice of their NBA profession.

The Nuggets have had to make use of 20 gamers to get via the turmoil and turnover that has come about due to accidents and diseases, however Jokic has been the one fixed, for essentially the most half, this season. The truth is, simply quietly, Jokic is placing up numbers which might be proper on par along with his MVP season in 2020-21. 

Jokic has been so dominant over the previous two seasons that he joined some rarified firm.

Solely three facilities have averaged 25-plus factors, 10-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists per sport: Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jokic. It hadn’t been performed since 195-76 when Abdul-Jabbar managed it with the Lakers, however Jokic has now performed it in consecutive seasons – a feat that hadn’t been performed since Chamberlain in 1963-64 and 1965-66. 

Nuggets coach Mike Malone referred to as Jokic one of many extra disrespected reigning MVPs that he can bear in mind.

“For those who open up the dictionary and search for the phrase consistency, there’s going to be an image of Nikola there,” Malone said. “That’s going again to the (2020 Disney World) bubble, that’s going again to the 72-game season final yr and this yr. We knew Jamal was going to be out for an prolonged interval, however if you add a Michael Porter (damage) and a P.J. Dozier (damage) to that listing, it turns into much more unbelievable what he’s doing.”

Most triple-doubles in NBA historical past

*Energetic gamers

4 of the highest 10 gamers on the listing are presently within the league, with Lakers guard Russell Westbrook sitting at No. 1, whereas Jokic is the one non-guard on the listing alongside Wilt Chamberlain. The truth is, Jokic joins Chamberlain as the one two facilities in historical past with 50 triple-doubles. 

The Denver Nuggets are 22-20 this season and presently sit sixth within the Western Convention. In 37 video games this season Jokkic is averaging 25.3 factors, 13.9 rebounds and seven.4 assists per sport.