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Denver Nuggets: Could Nikola Jokic Average a Triple-Double?

By Aditya Chandran

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the Denver Nuggets Media Day at the Pepsi Center on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the Denver Nuggets Media Day at the Pepsi Center on September 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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57 years ago, a great player by the name of Oscar Roberston did the unthinkable and successfully averaged a triple-double for an entire season. Many wondered if this feat could ever be accomplished again.

Fast forward to 55 years after The Big O’s triple-double season, to 2016-17. What the world thought would be impossible to do was accomplished by Russell Westbrook. Playing for a depleted Oklahoma City Thunder squad fresh from losing superstar Kevin Durant, Westbrook took over and averaged a triple-double while carrying the team to the playoffs. He won the 2017 NBA MVP award for his efforts. Westbrook then went on to do it for two more seasons in a row, a feat that no one had ever accomplished.

PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 23: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With Westbrook now playing with the Houston Rockets alongside James Harden, another triple-double average seems highly unlikely. It begs the question, who will the next person to average a triple-double?

At the pace the league is playing at and the popularity of the triple-double, the next player to do so should happen soon rather than later. If I were to put money on it, I would bet on Nikola Jokic to accomplish this feat.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1100643525471830016

Just last season Jokic came close to doing so, averaging 20.1 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 7.3 APG. But that is not as convincing as what he showed the world during the 2019 playoffs. Jokic took his game to the next level and got even closer to averaging that elusive triple-double. In his first postseason, Jokic averaged an astonishing 25.1 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 8.3 APG in 14 games. While that may be a small sample size, he is still only 24 years old with so much room to develop and improve.

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 13: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets  (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 13: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets  (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Another aspect to consider is the poor shooting from the main core around Jokic. The 2018-19 season was not kind to many of the players on the Nuggets not named Jokic in the FG% department. While not all of the missed shots came from a Jokic pass, it would be safe to assume if the players around him were more efficient his assist numbers would rise.

Jamal Murray (43.7%), Gary Harris (42.4%) and Will Barton (40.2%) all need to improve their shooting numbers going into next season. More shots for players like Malik Beasley (50.2%) or Monte Morris (49.3%) as well as the addition of Jerami Grant (49.7%) could all help Jokic get to that 10.0 APG average.

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It may be too much to expect a triple-double average from Jokic this coming season, but as he hits his prime and the youngsters around him all grow and develop around Jokic, it would not be shocking to see him average those historic numbers.

The future is extremely bright for the 24-year-old superstar MVP candidate.

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