Western Conference rival center of Nikola Jokic sets incredible NBA record

When it comes to NBA big men, and really players in general, Nikola Jokic is without equal on this earth currently. There are a handful of players who could argue they are near his level; Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic come to mind.

But there are even fewer players who play the game with a similar style to the Joker. One of those players is Sacramento Kings center, Domantas Sabonis. Domas certainly isn’t on the same level as the Joker - or even close - but he is an incredible offensive player, who can be a playmaking hub out of the block, the elbow, or the high post.

He’s an efficient scorer, an excellent rebounder and passer, and runs similar sets and two-man actions to those of Jokic. The results and impact on winning aren’t as good as what Nikola has been able to accomplish, but that could be said of anyone.

Sabonis, the son of former Blazers legend Arvydas Sabonis, is averaging 20 points, 8.3 assists, and a league-leading 13.7 rebounds per game this season. He also tops the NBA with 25 triple-doubles on the season and has his Kings sitting at 42-29, currently good for 6th place in the Western Conference.

Record breaking night for Sabonis

And on Monday night, Sabonis made history as he extended his ridiculous streak of double-doubles to 54 consecutive games, passing Kevin Love for the longest streak since the ABA/NBA merger. He still has a ways to go if he wants to touch the all-time record of 227 straight double-doubles set by Wilt Chamberlain.

Sabonis put up 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists on the night, as the Kings beat the 76ers at home 108-96, but the historic night for Sabonis stole the show. The consistency is truly remarkable, and the fact that it’s helping the Kings win games and compete in a loaded Western Conference makes the record even more impressive.

The big Lithuanian by way of Gonzaga also became just the fifth player in NBA history to record 25 or more triple-doubles in a single season. He joined Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and Wilt Chamberlain as players to accomplish the absurd feat.

It’s also amazing to watch the growth of Sabonis. Coming into this season, he had just 32 career triple-doubles, with 14 of those coming last season. He had just 18 total through the first six seasons of his career.