In basketball, a triple-double is a rare and impressive statistic. Back in the 1961-62 season, when Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double, it seemed like an impossible feat to repeat. For over 50 years, this held true. Russell Westbrook later joined this exclusive club in the 2016-17 season and achieved it multiple times. However, both Robertson and Westbrook are guards, positions that naturally handle the ball more and are better positioned to accumulate stats.
Nikola Jokić, a center, has now made history as the first center in the NBA to average a triple-double for an entire season, as of Friday. With an impressive performance of 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists, Jokić secured this achievement regardless of Sunday`s game outcome. Historically, the idea of a center achieving this was almost unthinkable. Only two other centers in NBA history, Wilt Chamberlain and Domantas Sabonis, have even averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Typically, big men don`t control the ball enough to accomplish what Jokić has done.
Interestingly, Jokić is also the best outside shooter among players who have averaged a triple-double. He is set to become the first to shoot over 40% from the 3-point line in a triple-double season, barring any unforeseen circumstances on Sunday. (It`s worth noting that Robertson played before the introduction of the 3-point shot). No player in NBA history, regardless of points or assists, has ever averaged 10 rebounds and shot 40% from 3-point range. Jokić, as a center, has now achieved this. It`s an extraordinary anomaly, possibly the most statistically impressive offensive season ever.
Despite this historic season, Jokić might not be awarded his fourth MVP trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently the favorite with very high odds. In a recent ESPN poll by Tim Bontemps, Gilgeous-Alexander received significantly more first-place votes than Jokić. This was even before news of the Nuggets firing their head coach and general manager.
The odds are against Jokić. Gilgeous-Alexander`s Thunder team has a significant lead over Jokić`s Nuggets, and Gilgeous-Alexander is considered a better defender, in addition to his outstanding offensive performance. This MVP race is considered one of the most competitive ever, with both players being deserving winners. Nuggets interim coach David Adelman described the situation perfectly: this MVP race will also have an incredible loser.
“If he doesn’t win MVP, it’s the greatest season of all time not to win MVP,” Adelman stated on Friday.
This might be true, and Jokić would share this with other members of the triple-double club. Oscar Robertson lost the MVP award in 1962 to Bill Russell. Russell Westbrook only won MVP in one of his four triple-double seasons. If Jokić doesn`t win this year, then out of the six triple-double seasons in NBA history, only one MVP award has been given, and the first-ever triple-double average by a center won`t result in a trophy, even though the same player has won three of the last four MVPs without this achievement.
Whether it`s due to Gilgeous-Alexander`s excellence, voter fatigue, or a combination, it would have seemed highly unlikely at the start of the season.
Jasper Hawthorne