It would have been impossible for Nikola Jokic to take his game to a higher level this season. The Denver Nuggets superstar entered the 2024-25 season having already won three NBA MVPs, one NBA Championship and one NBA Finals MVP. Jokic was in his prime at 29 years old, and it felt like the Nuggets were falling apart around him. Denver has lost three key pieces from its 2023 championship team over the past two years, none of which Jamal Murray has underperformed due to injury. The young players the franchise drafted have really emerged.
Somehow, the Joker finds a way. After the Nuggets beat a pathetic opponent. philadelphia 76ers144-109, Tuesday night, Denver is over .500 for a season-high 11 games and currently sits in the No. 4 seed in the West. Jokic's only contribution to the victory was another triple-double in just three quarters. This is the fourth straight game Jokic has recorded a triple-double before the start of the fourth quarter.which is becoming a signature achievement for him this season.
Jokic leads the NBA with 18 triple-doubles this season. He currently has 13 of his triple-doubles through the fourth quarter. That means Jokic has more triple-doubles in the third quarter. The other team is in the 4th quarter.
of lakers This year, they have the most triple-doubles as a team outside of Denver. Lakers players combined for 10 triple-doubles this season. Below is a list of the 13 games in which Jokic achieved a triple-double in just three quarters.
Jokic has 13 triple-doubles by the end of the third quarter this year (compared to seven for every other NBA player).
10/29 Nets
11/4 vs Raptors
11/6 vs. Thunder
11/8 vs Heat
11/10 vs Mavs
12/1 Clippers game
12/16 at Kings
12/27 vs Cavs
1/1 vs Hawks
1/14 at Mavs
1/17 Heat
1/19 at Magic
1/21 vs 76ers https://t.co/oXPxDsR6ES— Statzman (@RealStatzman) January 22, 2025
Just a year ago, the league was debating Joel Embiid vs. Jokic for MVP. From then on, everything went the Joker's way. Embiid had to play through a number of injuries in last season's playoffs before the 76ers left him early again. Embiid has only played in 13 games this season, and it's caused the Sixers to go from a championship contender to a tanker.
Jokic, on the other hand, continues to be a stud. He completed a triple-double on Tuesday against Philadelphia with a signature lob to teammate Aaron Gordon. Notice how Jokic tricks the defender and runs towards the corner, then passes to Gordon for an easy two points.
Will MVP be Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? You can't go wrong either way. We are witnessing one of the greatest players of all time reach his absolute peak. Every time Jokic steps on the floor, it's a movie.
