Nikola Jokic. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Revisiting Nikola Jokic's historic triple-double on the fifth anniversary

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 2/15/23

Five years ago, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic broke a 63-year-old NBA record that many thought would be unbreakable.

Jokic put together a dominant first half against the Milwaukee Bucks, recording the fastest triple-double in NBA history with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in only 14 minutes and 33 seconds of game time.

Jokic broke the previous record set in 1955 by Jim Tucker of the Syracuse Nationals. He recorded his triple-double in exactly 17 minutes vs. the New York Knicks, posting a triple-double off the bench with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

Tucker only lasted three seasons in the NBA, but will always be a part of the history books.

Nikola Jokic (16 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST) notches his second consecutive triple-double and 11th of his career in just one half of action!#MileHighBasketball

Watch on #NBALeaguePass pic.twitter.com/8QiYJn9bIZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2018

Jokic made a run at breaking his record this season, securing a triple-double in 18 minutes versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 7.

I think Nikola Jokic recorded the 4th fastest triple-double in NBA history tonight. He already has the fastest ever:

1. Nikola Jokic - 14:33 (2018)
2. Jim Tucker - 17 minutes (1955)
3. Russell Westbrook - 17:35 (2016)
4. Nikola Jokic ∼ 18 minutes (tonight)
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) February 8, 2023

He also recently broke his own franchise season record of 19 triple-doubles by recording No. 20 of the 2023 season on Feb. 11 against the Charlotte Hornets.

Only in his eighth season in the NBA, Jokic ranks sixth on the all-time triple-double list with 96.

The five players before him on the list include three current Hall-of-Famers and two future Hall-of-Famers LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

While this is a record that will be tough to beat, Jokic is the type of player who will use it as motivation to one-up himself and break it in the future.

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