At this point, what can you even say about Nikola Jokic that hasn’t already been said? The man has accomplished almost everything that one can do on a basketball court and he’s done it all before the age of 30.
The different numbers and accolades are simply mind-boggling and his resume puts him in the conversation for the top 10 greatest players of all time even if he never plays another minute. The three MVP awards plus a Finals MVP put him on the shortlist for most accomplished player ever as well.
You can find a way to spin almost any statistic or advanced analytics in a way that makes the Joker look like the best player to ever pick up a basketball. And perhaps, when it’s all said and done, that will be his ultimate legacy and a generally accepted opinion.
But for now, we still need the crazy statistical anomalies and comical records to fully quantify his greatness as it’s happening in real-time before our eyes. And just the other night, when he last played on Tuesday night, Jokic set a new career achievement that has never been seen.
Jokic fastest in history to 15,000 points, 7,500 rebounds, & 5,000 assists
Against the Mavericks, Jokic became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 15,000 points, 7,500 rebounds, and 5,000 assists for a career, doing so in just 709 games. The previous fastest was Hall of Famer, and living legend, Larry Bird.
We’ve never watched someone make the game look this easy.
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 15, 2025
He beat Bird by 90 games. pic.twitter.com/2DeZD7jTk5
Bird is widely regarded as one of the 5-10 greatest players who ever lived. His peak may have been even higher as Bird’s career was cut short due to back injuries. But even with all the greatness early in his career, it took Bird 799 to accomplish this feat; 90 more than the Joker.
It’s crazy to think that Bird reached this mark almost 40 years ago and not a single player has touched it since. Not Jordan, not LeBron, not anyone. Now, Jokic comes along and does it, and not only that; it took him more than an entire regular season’s worth of games shorter.
Given 90 more games, Jokic will set an entirely new standard that will likely be almost even more difficult to eclipse than what Bird accomplished. It’s absolutely ridiculous, but it’s just the norm for the Joker. He’s incredible and this is just example #456787654345678987654.