Day that ends in "Y": Nikola Jokic keeps doing things that have never been done

I’m almost running out of words to describe the brilliance of Nikola Jokic. There’s nothing he could do on a basketball court that would surrpise at this point. He’s currently in the midst of an epic run of play over the last five games.

Jokic’s entire season has been incredible, but recently he’s on another level. He has recorded a triple-double in five straight games before the fourth quarter. This is already an NBA record that he just continues extending as no other player has ever even accomplished this feat in more than two straight games. 

The Nuggets have won each of these games, mostly in blowout fashion. The first four were such resounding wins that Jkoic didn’t even play a single fourth quarter minute. It appeared that would be the case again on Thursday night after Joker’s 65+ foot buzzer-beater to end the third quarter put Denver up by 25 points.

But the Kings battled back in the final frame, forcing Jokic to come back into the game to help close out a 132-123 victory. The final tally for Jokic was 35 points, 22 rebounds, 17 assists, and one all-time highlight that will live on forever.

Jokic records first 30+, 22+, 17+ game in NBA history

As if Jokic’s season and recent streak weren’t enough, he’s actually rewriting the history books in real time. He became the first player to rack up 30 or more points, 20 or more rebounds, and 15 or more assists in 57 years, since Wilt Chamberlain pulled it off.

To make it even more impressive, no player in the history of the NBA has ever recorded 30 or more points, 22 or more rebounds, and 17 or more assists. Jokic owns the first and only 35/22/17 stat line ever.

To go one step further, nobody since the NBA/ABA merger has ever even reached each of 35 points, 22 rebounds, and 17 assists over the course of an entire season. Jokic did it in one game in just 37 minutes of action.

Jokic first player to lead NBA in points, rebounds, and assists in one night

There were nine games across the association last night, and Jokic led all players in points, rebound, and assists on the evening. He’s the first player in NBA history to lead all players in each category on a night with at least eight games played.

It was obviously a historic game for Joker, but this is really nothing out of the ordinary for Jokic. The cherry on top of it all is that Jokic also became the first player in NBA history to have an eight-game span with 200+ points, 100+ rebounds, 75+ assists, 20+ steals, and a perfect 8-0 team record. 

It’s something new every night at this point. The fact that we can rattle off a list of NBA records the Joker made in one night and we’ve basically become numb to it all, is the best way to describe how incredible he is. I can’t say this enough, but enjoy it while it lasts and appreciate this greatness.