Nikola Jokić set a new record for the NBA on Friday by stuffing the stat sheet.
An extraordinary stat line that was in perfect harmony with his all-time outstanding passing abilities as a big man was recorded by the Denver Nuggets superstar in a 149-141 overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns. More specifically, in 45 minutes, he scored 31 points (on 13-of-22 shooting), had 22 assists, and grabbed 21 rebounds.
As a bonus, there were three thefts. In the extra period, he was instrumental, scoring or setting up seven of Denver’s eight field goals. Including over half of their 43 rebounds, he contributed to 35 of their 57 field goals from Friday.
Given that his participation in the game was previously doubtful due to an ankle ailment, he did quite well. He set up many scoring chances for the team all game long.
In addition to setting a new record for triple-doubles, Jokić also surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s previous mark of 21 assists for a center. The record is still held by Scott Skiles, who established it in 1990 with 30.
“It’s going to be nice to go finish my career, on my couch, and think I had a really good game,” Jokic told ESPN after the game.
This success is very fitting for Jokić. Not only is the current MVP the greatest passing big man in NBA history, but he is also a formidable scorer and rebounder. His 159 career triple-doubles put him in third place all-time, and he just scored two in a single game, so he may as well have gotten another one. He’s just 30 years old.
His current pace puts him near teammate Russell Westbrook, who has 202 career points, and may perhaps overtake him for the record.
“I was completely unaware of his 30-20-20 and that he was the pioneer in doing it,” said Michael Malone, coach of the Denver Nuggets. “I think I heard Nikola saying to Russ, ‘You didn’t get 30-20-20 before?'”
Thanks to their effort, the Nuggets avoided a humiliating 29-34 defeat to the Suns. In the third quarter, Denver had a 21-point lead. However, the Suns staged a dramatic comeback, forcing overtime and almost costing the Nuggets a significant lead in the Western Conference race for second place.
On Friday, Jokić was ranked third in the NBA in rebounding and had set new personal bests in points (28.8), assists (10.4), steals (1.8), and 3-point shooting (43.9%). Even though he played fewer minutes than the last three MVPs, he is still Vegas’s underdog to succeed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A 30–20–20 game is sure to sway some voters to think again.
FAQs
Q1: Has there ever been a 30-20-20 game in NBA history?
A: Yes, once. Nikola Jokić became the first player ever to record 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 20+ assists in a single game (February 2024).
Q2: What is a 30/20/20 in basketball?
A: A triple-double with at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists—a feat only achieved by Jokić.
Q3: How many 50-point games does Nikola Jokić have?
A: Three (as of May 2024), including a career-high 50 points in January 2023.
Q4: Who has the most 20-point, 20-rebound games in NBA history?
A: Wilt Chamberlain (over 400 times), followed by Elvin Hayes and Bob Pettit. Jokić has 10+ such games.