Nikola Jokić did more than stuff the box score in Utah on Thursday. With a 15-point, 17-rebound, 12-assist line against the Jazz, the Denver centerpiece mathematically locked in a triple-double average for a second straight season, putting himself in a club that only includes Russell Westbrook. It is the latest in a season full of wild stat lines as the Nuggets hit the regular-season home stretch.
Historic two-year run
Sports Illustrated notes that Thursday's performance guarantees Jokić will finish the 2025-26 campaign averaging a triple-double, which would make him and Westbrook the only players in NBA history to do it in back-to-back seasons. The outlet frames the latest benchmark as a continuation of the run that began when Jokić averaged a triple-double in 2024-25.
The math behind the milestone
The Associated Press game recap, republished by ABC News, lays out how the numbers work. Jokić has 660 assists this season and, with five games left, is guaranteed to finish at a 10-assist average even if he does not record another one. The night in Utah is highlighted as another example of his ability to run Denver's entire offense.
Where he sits in NBA history
The official leaderboard at NBA.com lists Russell Westbrook as the all-time triple-double leader and has Jokić among the most prolific stat-stuffers in league history. His steady climb has turned the career chase into a quiet subplot, something analysts circle back to whenever he posts another big box score.
What it means for Denver
For the Nuggets, Jokić's back-to-back triple-double seasons ripple beyond the record books. His production has helped fuel MVP chatter, even as voters weigh other contenders, and it gives Denver a steady, all-purpose focal point as the postseason nears. ESPN previously noted his 2024-25 triple-double season while breaking down how numbers like these factor into award debates.
On the local front, coverage has already shifted from stat-tracking to soaking in the moment. KDVR folds the box-score milestone into the broader Denver storyline, with a recap that includes reaction from fans and teammates as the Nuggets close out the regular season.
