Nikola Jokić is closing in on Russell Westbrook’s triple-double record fast.
The Denver Nuggets star completed the 200th triple-double of his career on Wednesday night while leading them to a 104-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Jokić had 21 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field at the Smoothie King Center, and he added 13 rebounds and 10 assists. It marked his second triple-double of the season.
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Jokić is now just the second player in NBA history with at least 200 triple-doubles in his career. He is just nine away from matching Westbrook’s all-time record.
Jokić was already the league’s active leader on the triple-double list. Westbrook officially announced his retirement from the NBA in August. He had 209 triple-doubles in his career, and broke Oscar Robertson’s all-time record back in 2021. Robertson had 181 in his career.
Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James is the only other active player in the league with triple-digit triple-doubles. He has 125 in his career and is fifth on the all-time list. Magic Johnson had 138 in his career.
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The Nuggets led the entire way on Wednesday night. Jamal Murray had 23 points to go with Jokić’s triple-double while shooting 5 of 11 from the 3-point line, and Aaron Gordon had 15 points and 11 rebounds. The win moved them to 2-2 on the season.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 25 points and five rebounds, and Derik Queen added 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. The Pelicans have lost four straight to open the season.
At this rate, it appears to be a matter of time before Jokić breaks Westbrook’s record. He had 34 triple-doubles last season alone, and he’s up to two through just four games this season.
How far he pushes that record before opting to retire, though, remains to be seen.
