Diving into just how good Nikola Jokic truly is

Place In History: Passing

As established, Nikola Jokic is one of the best passing big men in NBA history. His highlight reel is flush with unbelievable feeds to slashers and shooters alike, as well as transition plays that defy the logic of what a 284-pound center is supposed to be able to do.

Although it’s readily accepted that he’s an elite passer, a deep-dive into the historical significance of the numbers takes it all a step further.

Despite being just five years into his NBA career, Jokic already ranks second all-time in games with at least 10 assists. His 55 games trail only Wilt Chamberlain, whose 80 games with double-digit dimes have long stood the test of time.

For perspective: Third amongst centers is Bill Russell with 22 10-assist games, and no other 5 in NBA history has even reached the 20-game plateau.

Taking it a step further, Jokic already has three seasons during which he’s averaged at least 6.0 assists per game. That ranks No. 1 all-time amongst centers, with Chamberlain being the only other 5 who has reached that mark in multiple seasons.

If Jokic manages to boost his current average of 6.9 assists per game in 2019-20 to 7.0, he’d join Chamberlain as the only centers to hit that number in multiple seasons.

Plain and simple: Jokic may already be the best passing big man to ever spend their career in the NBA.