We’ve seen some exceptional playoff performances by stars such as Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler among many others. However, no player has been as dominant and consistent as Nikola Jokic throughout this postseason. While leading the Denver Nuggets to a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, the Joker has been averaging a triple-double. With his numbers, the Serbian superstar has even managed to surpass some of Wilt Chamberlain’s excellence during his first-ever championship run in 1967.
Advertisement
Wilt the Stilt put up some of the most ballistic numbers during his playing days. Standing at 7-foot-1, the big man would easily dominate both sides of the court. When we look at the history books, almost all the unthinkable records that can be held are under Chamberlain’s name. Breaking any record held by the former 7-time scoring champ would require one to be in absolutely sensational form.
Jokic, who is just one of few to do so, has broken one of the most prestigious feats previously held by Wilt for 56 years – most triple-doubles ever in a single playoff run.
Nikola Jokic has recorded 8 triple-doubles in 15 postseason games
During the 1967 playoffs, a prime Chamberlain would lead the Philadelphia 76ers to win the title. En route to winning the championship, the center would go on to average a staggering 21.7 points, 29.1 rebounds, and 9 assists. And in the 15 games played he played, the 13-time All-Star lodged 7 triple-doubles.
A record that no one could even tie for over five decades was finally done in by Nikola. Further, in Game 4 of the Lakers-Nuggets WFC clash, the 28-year-old put up an 8th triple-double of the 2023 playoffs in merely 3 quarters of action.
Having already won back-to-back MVPs and been selected to 5 All-NBA teams, Jokic is inarguably an all-time great. With his display in this historic postseason, Jokic’s rankings in the all-time list will certainly be on the rise.
It’s a good thing that he has given himself a chance to win now too. After all, due to Wilt Chamberlain’s waiting for half a decade, he often got the moniker of stat stuffer during his times. It appears that Jokic has narrowly avoided that fate, just as the narrative was starting to go against him. Take that, Kendrick Perkins!
The Nuggets win the Western Conference championship
With their latest 113-111 Game 4 win, the Nuggets have swept the Los Angeles Lakers to be crowned as the champs of the Western Conference for the first time in their history.
Behind the co-leadership of Nikola and Jamal Murray, along with valuable consistent contributions by Michael Porter Jr., KCP, and Bruce Brown, Mike Malone’s boys are definitely favored to lift the 2023 championship.
