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Nikola Jokic becomes 1st player in NBA history to post at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, 20 assists

Nikola Jokić sets NBA history with the league’s first game of 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists, and his genius is apparent.

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Nikola Jokić has redefined the concept of unselfish basketball dominance. In Denver’s dramatic overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday, he added his most singularly impressive entry yet.

The Nuggets superstar became the first player in NBA history to amass at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a single game, finishing with 31, 21 and 22, respectively in his latest statistically overwhelming performance.

Jokić was still an assist shy of the historic 30-20-20 mark with less than 90 seconds remaining in overtime. Twenty-seven seconds later, he had 22, cementing his name in history with passes leading to two dunks and a layup that simultaneously slammed the door on the Suns’ hopes in Denver’s 149-141 victory.

The Serbian center shared a typically humble reaction to his own achievement during a postgame interview on ESPN.

“It’s gonna be nice to go finish my career, on my couch, and think I had a really good game,” Jokić said.

As the NBA wades into its fourth quarter-century, Jokić continues to unearth first-time feats. This latest joins landmarks that include Jokić becoming:

  • the first player with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season
  • the first player to earn the most total points, rebounds and assists in a single postseason
  • the first player with at least 10 triple-doubles in seven straight seasons (he’s still going at eight now)
  • the first player to post a 30-20-10 stat line in an NBA Finals game
  • the first player to post 20-15-15 in less than 30 minutes
  • the first Denver Nuggets player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award

Jokić’s record-breaking play this season has him in contention for a fourth Kia MVP award, an achievement only five other players in league history can claim (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain).

Despite several key veteran departures on the Nuggets since their 2023 NBA championship, Jokić has Denver in play for second place in the Western Conference. After Friday’s performance, the Nuggets are now the only team in the league with a perfect 5-0 record in overtime games.

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