Nikola Jokic had a very strong case to be the MVP last year, and so far, he’s making sure he has another one this year. He fell short after an incredible year by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but there was an argument to be made for the Denver Nuggets star. He’s off to a historic start so far, and he might be the early favorite, although Gilgeous-Alexander is also red-hot right now.
Nikola Jokic notches historic fourth triple-double to open season
Triple-doubles, thanks to Russell Westbrook, have become a bit normalized. It’s not at all shocking that players record them now. Even role players sometimes stumble into them. They happen so frequently that the NBA world is desensitized to how hard it really is to record 10 or more in three stats. So many players are so versatile that three of 10 points, blocks, rebounds, assists, or steals is something they can do pretty often. That includes Nikola Jokic.
Last season, the Denver Nuggets center averaged a triple-double with an astonishing 29.6 points, 10.2 assists, and 12.7 rebounds. Those are absurd numbers, and while his scoring is down to start the year, he’s averaging a triple-double again with 20.3 points, 11.3 assists, and 14.5 rebounds.
In all four contests, Jokic has recorded one. In the opener, he had 21 points, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds. That was Denver’s lone loss, and a poor shooting night for Jokic (8/23 from the field) spoiled a historically efficient 50-point contest from Aaron Gordon. Jokic responded by recording three more triple-doubles in wins and shooting above 60% in all three of them. He had 14 points, 15 assists, and 14 rebounds in Game 2. He followed that up with 25 points, 10 assists, and 19 rebounds. Last night, he tied Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook with his fourth straight triple-double to start the season with 21 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds.
Clearly, the assists are the one thing that Jokic can’t get as frequently for the triple-doubles. He’s had only 10 in three of the four, so it might be harder to sustain. Of course, assists are the hardest stat to record because they’re entirely dependent on the player making the shot after the pass. It’s out of Jokic’s hands at that point, but he is a good enough passer that there’s a real shot he sets the record with a fifth consecutive triple-double next time out.
Jokic is slowly building a case as one of the best players of all time. He shoots well, passes like no other, and rebounds well. Very few players have ever been able to do what he does, especially as a true big man. He’s not a stretch four; he’s a legitimate center who makes behind-the-back passes and sees things when they’re not even there. If that wasn’t evident before, it should be evident now as he’s on a hot streak only two others in NBA history have ever reached.
The Nuggets won a title with Jokic at the center, and as long as he’s this good, they still have a chance even in the loaded Western Conference. Thanks to an offseason to revamp the talent around Jokic, namely swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, the Nuggets are back to being legitimate contenders. Jokic is a walking triple-double, as evidenced by this historic run of games, and the Nuggets are incredibly dangerous.
There’s a case to be made that Jokic should’ve had the last five MVP awards. He had two in a row in 2021 and 2022, which may have led to some voter fatigue in 2023. That’s when Joel Embiid won, but many still believe Jokic was the more deserving candidate. Jokic won it again in 2024, and despite the incredible season Gilgeous-Alexander had in 2025, there was a real debate between the two as to who should get it. If this continues, Jokic might end up with an impressive fourth MVP award.
