Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokić continued his dominance during Thursday’s 126-115 home victory over the Orlando Magic, securing his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season.
With his latest well-rounded performance, the three-time MVP cemented his status as the NBA’s most prolific playmaking big man ever, edging out an all-time great.
Nikola Jokić Overtakes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Most Assists by a Center in NBA History
Jokić entered Thursday just six assists behind Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,660) on the league’s all-time career assists leaderboard for centers. Jokić took care of business in short order, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar after setting up teammate Jalen Pickett for a wing 3-pointer with 6:26 remaining in the second quarter.
The seven-time All-Star went on to finish with 23 points, 11 rebounds, a game-high 13 assists, and two steals, shooting an efficient 10-for-17 (58.8%). Jokić’s big night put him at 5,667 career assists, seven ahead of Abdul-Jabbar, a feat he joked about postgame.
“I always say those things are something for after [my] career,” Jokić said when asked if the record “means anything” to him. “I think the legacy [is] for after [my] career, that I’m gonna look back on the porch drinking beer and telling lies to my kids.”
Perhaps most impressively, Jokić achieved the record in 789 fewer games than the six-time MVP. While Abdul-Jabbar appeared in 1,560 outings across his illustrious 20-year career, Thursday’s contest marked Jokić’s 771st through 11 campaigns.
Jokić was aided by his co-star Jamal Murray’s game-best 32-point outburst. Murray scored 20 of his points in the second quarter as Denver quickly flipped a 14-point deficit (47-33) into a 68-54 halftime edge behind a remarkable 35-7 run.
The Nuggets later extended their lead to as high as 21 points in the second half. However, Orlando, led by star forward Paolo Banchero’s 26-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist performance, rallied to within six points (121-115) with 1:32 to go.
Unfortunately for the Magic, Jokić responded by capitalizing on a double-team to find sharpshooter Cameron Johnson wide open in the corner for a dagger triple that put his squad up 124-115 with 1:15 left. That marked the big man’s 13th and final dime of the evening as Denver clinched its sixth straight victory.
The Nuggets (20-6) will look to extend their winning streak to seven games during Saturday’s home matchup against the Houston Rockets (16-8) in a battle between two Western Conference heavyweights.
