Nikola Jokic Joins Russell Westbrook And Oscar Robertson In Triple-Double Club

Nikola Jokic has officially etched his name into NBA immortality. With a commanding 26-point, 16-rebound, and 13-assist outing against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 11, 2025, the Serbian sensation became just the third player in league history to average a triple-double for an entire season. 

In doing so, he joined Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and his Denver Nuggets teammate Russell Westbrook as the only players to accomplish the rare feat—a milestone that solidifies Jokic’s status as one of the most unique and dominant players the league has ever seen.

What makes Jokic’s achievement even more remarkable is the context. While Robertson did it during the 1961–62 season and Westbrook infamously did it four times between 2016 and 2021, Jokic becomes the first center to ever average a triple-double over a full campaign. 

In a season marred by organizational turmoil—where both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were dismissed—Jokic remained a pillar of consistency and excellence, keeping the reigning champions in playoff contention virtually singlehandedly.

Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game while shooting a blistering 57.5 percent from the field. He has racked up 34 triple-doubles in the 2024–25 season, and no other player in the league has even reached 11. 

He has already surpassed his previous career-best assist average of 9.8, set during Denver’s championship season in 2022–23, and he is also set to finish with a career-high in scoring. 

Adding to the historical weight of his campaign, Jokic is also the only player in NBA history to finish top three in points, rebounds, assists, and steals for a season—an all-encompassing dominance that not even Westbrook or Robertson can claim.

Though he has already captured three MVPs and a Finals MVP, this season might be his most complete. Jokic also set a single-game career-high with 61 points in what was the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history, and became the first player ever to record a 30-20-20 stat line. 

His impact has extended beyond the stat sheet, anchoring a Nuggets team that, without his brilliance, might not have even sniffed the play-in tournament.

The MVP race, however, is far from a lock. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the popular favorite with his gaudy scoring totals and team success, but Jokic’s historic resume demands serious consideration. 

The triple-double average, combined with his efficiency and all-around excellence, makes a compelling case for a fourth MVP crown.

Regardless of the final MVP vote, Jokic’s place in history is secure. He is now forever linked with Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook in one of the NBA’s most exclusive clubs, and as the first big man to do it, his achievement carries added historical resonance. 

Jokic isn’t just redefining the center position—he’s reshaping the entire conversation about what greatness in basketball truly looks like.