Jokic joins rare company with 20th triple-double of year

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball against Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (5) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Brian Westerholt-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic joins rare company with 20th triple-double of the season

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/11/23

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic added another impressive feat to his already robust career resume on Saturday.

In the Nuggets' 119-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets, Jokic posted 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to record his 20th triple-double of the 2022-23 campaign.

Jokic becomes only the fifth player in the history of the NBA with 20 or more triple-doubles in a single season, joining Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain, and James Harden.

Nikola Jokic is only the 5th player in NBA history to record 20+ triple-doubles in a single season.

Oscar Robertson (5 times)
Russell Westbrook (4 times)
Wilt Chamberlain (3 times)
James Harden (1 time)
Nikola Jokic (1 time) pic.twitter.com/4k7Y9vXsYm
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 12, 2023

Jokic's 20th triple-double leads the NBA by a wide margin. Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is second in the league, 10 behind Jokic, per StatMuse.

The 27-year-old is averaging 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Jokic is the tallest player to average a triple-double this late into the season.

Posting incredible numbers yet again, Jokic is possibly on the verge of making even more history. Jokic is one of the favorites to win the NBA MVP award, which would be his third straight.

If Jokic comes away with the hardware again, he'll join only Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Larry Bird as the only players to win back-to-back-to-back MVP awards.

Jokic is the favorite (-139) to win MVP per Oddschecker, followed by Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (+350) and Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (+850).

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