Nikola Jokić Underwhelmed by Passing Larry Bird on All-Time Triple-Double List
Bernd Becker 
Nikola Jokić, the rookie sensation for the Denver Nuggets who just passed Larry Bird on a list of all-time triple-doubles has been underwhelmed by his achievement. To him, it’s not that big of an accomplishment since he was already one of the best players in NBA history. What are your thoughts?
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets was not very happy with his ranking on the all-time triple-double list. He is currently at number 15 with a total of 130 career triple doubles, but he believes that he deserves to be higher. Read more in detail here: nikola jokic age.
Nikola Joki, the center for the Denver Nuggets, seemed to be a perfect fit for one of the classic American Express advertisements from the 1980s. “Even though I’m the reigning NBA MVP, no one knows who I am,” he may remark as he walks onto the scene. Joki was philosophical about the achievement after scoring his 60th career triple-double in a defeat to the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 6.
The Nuggets are going through a rough patch. Denver has lost eight of its previous ten games, falling below.500 after a 9–4 start, due to injuries and three players under NBA health and safety regulations. Joki hasn’t been immune to injuries, missing four games due to a wrist ailment before returning on Nov. 29.
When Nikola Joki shoots well, the Denver Nuggets have won since his comeback.
Nikola Joki of the Denver Nuggets surpassed Larry Bird on the NBA’s all-time triple-double chart with his 60th triple-double. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets are 2–2 in their last four games since Nikola Joki returned. The barometer has been Joki’s shooting. He hit a combined 23-of-33 in the two wins, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. In the losses, he was as icy as a Rocky Mountain glacier, going 13-of-36 and only hitting one of his ten long bombs.
Jamal Murray, who tore his ACL last season, was unable to play for the Nuggets this season. Michael Porter Jr.’s back problems have reappeared, and he’ll miss the rest of the season after surgery. PJ Dozier, a reserve winger, tore his ACL and will not return this season.
Guards Austin Rivers and Bones Hyland were the most recent additions to the health and safety routine, with backup big man Bol Bol joining them the next day.
As a result, Denver coach Mike Malone will start veteran Jeff Green while relying heavily on his initial five players. The Nuggets only earned 10 bench points in their 109–97 defeat to Chicago, as the reserves were a combined 4-of-22. They shot 39.2 percent as a team in the second half and were worn out.
That might explain why Joki was not in the mood to celebrate a huge personal achievement.
With his 60th career triple-double, Nikola Joki surpasses Larry Bird.
Nikola Joki had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 15 assists despite not shooting well in Chicago. With his third triple-double of the season, he now has 60 career triple-doubles, one more than Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
He has 60 triple-doubles, making him the eighth player in NBA history to do so. James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets is next on the list with 62 points. Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James of the Miami Heat top all active players with 185 and 99 points, respectively.
According to a tweet from Mike Singer of the Denver Post, Joki reacted to a query about the significance of the milestone with an almost negative answer:
“Perhaps I’ll leave some type of legacy, and they’ll remember me… “They aren’t,” says the narrator.
The Joker looks to be exaggerating his abilities. He’s just in his sixth season and already has an MVP award and three All-NBA selections. He won’t be 27 until February 19th. Though Luka Doni of the Dallas Mavericks is becoming increasingly visible in the rearview mirror, he has more triple-doubles than any other overseas player in NBA history. In his fourth NBA season, Doni has 38 triple-doubles.
Still, it’s easy to see why Joki might be concerned about the legacy he’ll leave behind.
Nikola Joki was the first player in Denver Nuggets history to win the NBA MVP Award in 2020–21. It took a bit since this was Denver’s 45th NBA season. In 1969–70, Spencer Haywood was named ABA MVP for the club. That’s it; that’s the full franchise’s list.
The Nuggets’ brand awareness issue stems from their lack of postseason success. Denver has never won an NBA championship since joining the league in 1976. They have yet to make it to the NBA Finals. The Nuggets have lost in the conference finals four times, in 1978, 1985, 2009, and 2020.
Denver is 11–12 in the Western Conference, enough for eighth place.
Joki is chipping in with 25.6 points, 13.5 rebounds (a career best), and 6.8 assists a game. His defense has become better.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, are in a grave situation. Injuries and protocol have taken away the majority of the roster’s depth. They’re 2–2 on their current road trip, which includes a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 8 and a two-game series against the San Antonio Spurs on December 9 and 11. Eight of Denver’s final 12 December games are on the road, and the 2021 calendar concludes with a challenging home-and-home series against the Golden State Warriors.
Perhaps Nikola Joki’s pleasure at a big personal achievement was dampened by this terrible reality. The good news for the Denver Nuggets is that the Western Conference isn’t as strong as it usually is. Despite their sub-.500 record, they’re just a half-game out of sixth place in the league, and only five clubs have winning records. Nonetheless, it seems like their season is on the verge of unraveling. That’s a difficult pill to take for a squad wanting to compete for a championship.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
RELATED: Nikola Jokic Is the NBA’s ‘Hardest Cover’ Aside From Kevin Durant
Watch This Video-
Related Tags
- how old is nikola jokic
- triple double basketball
- nikola jokic stats
