Nikola Jokic records career-high 19 assists, historic stat line

The three-time MVP missed out on his 26th triple-double of the season by a hair, finishing with nine rebounds. Yet, he made NBA history with a unique stat line that included four steals and 18 points. 

The game marked Jokic's 28th career outing with at least 15 assists, the most by a non-guard in history, per ESPN Research.

Chamberlain still holds the record for most assists by a center with 21 dimes for the 76ers recorded in Feb. 1968. However, Jokic now owns 20 of the top 25 assists games by a center, another feat that firmly establishes him as the best passing big in NBA history.

At his current pace (10.4 assists), Jokic is set to finish the season as the first center ever to average a triple-double and the first overall player since Russell Westbrook (four times) and Oscar Robertson (once). The Nuggets star came tantalizingly close in 2022-23 when he finished with 9.8 assists to go with 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Jokic is five triple-doubles away from equaling Chamberlain's record of 31 by a center (1967-68 season). With 24 games left, it's a safe bet he will eclipse "The Big Dipper" on the list. Westbrook, with 42, still holds the record for most triple-doubles in a season. 

The 30-year-old is also averaging career-highs in points (29.2), 3PM (2.0), 3P% (44.5), steals (1.8) and offensive rebounds (3.0). The high-volume scoring has been a revelation for a player who never averaged more than 18.0 shots per game before this season.