Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Ball Arena. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets' Nikola Jokic records historic triple-double

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Feb 23, 2024 8:35 AM ET

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic made NBA history in Thursday's 130-110 win over the Washington Wizards, becoming only the third player to post triple-doubles against every team they've played against.

Jokic joins Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook as the only players to accomplish the incredible feat.

After the game, Jokic didn't seem to fully understand what he'd done, humbly calling the achievement "nice."

"I think it's nice, especially when I finish my career -- it's a legacy, I guess," Jokic said via the NBA. "It's like a milestone or something like that, it's a milestone."

WHAT A STAT LINE FROM THE JOKER

21 PTS | 10-10 FGM | 19 REB | 15 AST pic.twitter.com/kAXRIgV7ig
— NBA (@NBA) February 23, 2024

The two-time MVP finished with 21 points, shooting a perfect 10-of-10 from the field while adding 15 assists and a ridiculous 19 rebounds. Overall, it's the 121st triple-double of his career. Meanwhile, it's his fourth triple-double shooting 100 percent from the field, surpassing the NBA record previously held by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, per Shane Young of Forbes.

While Jokic's shooting night was impressive enough, Nuggets head coach Mike Malone praised the big man for his ability to facilitate.

"Like any great passer, his head is always up," Malone told Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. "He's surveying the floor. He's seeing who is open, where the defense is, and he just has a tremendous IQ. He sees a lot of things before they happen."

After the Joker posted a joke of a stat line Thursday, his odds of winning a third MVP improved. Entering Thursday night's action, Jokic had the best odds (-125), per BetMGM.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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