Sitting calmly in front of his locker, Nikola Jokic seemed almost unimpressed by his historic feat in the NBA just 30 minutes prior. It was as if it was just another day at the office. But it wasn’t. The three-time NBA MVP had achieved something remarkable – the first triple-double in league history with at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists (31+21+22) in the Nuggets’ overtime win against the Suns (149-141), signing off with 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 22 assists, a personal record.
“These things aren’t supposed to happen,” Jokic said to the media. “I was talking to Aaron (Gordon), and he told me, ‘It was a pretty casual 30-20-20.'” I said to him that it was probably true. “I don’t think I did anything special. It just seemed like everything was going well, and I was in sync,” he said, trying to downplay his historic performance.
It’s probably something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s just a game. I don’t know what to say, to be honest.
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets player)
However, when pressed about his awareness of what he had just achieved, ‘The Joker’ finally put his feat into perspective: “It’s probably something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s just a game. I don’t know what to say, to be honest.” When asked if he would tell his grandchildren about this day, he jokingly said, “I’d lie to them, of course. I’d tell them that they didn’t keep track of the stats, that I had more.” He brushed off a question about being just eight assists shy of Scott Skiles’ historic record, saying, “I have different problems than that right now.”
He already had a triple-double by the start of the third quarter
Jokic tied his franchise record with his 29th triple-double of the season, achieving it just 1:20 into the third quarter with his tenth rebound. He was already on the verge of a triple-double since the first quarter, which ended with 10 points, six assists, and six rebounds.
He’s an incredible player. There are many great players in this league, but Nikola, in my opinion, is a unique player.
Michael Malone (Nuggets coach)
“Nikola Jokic is unique,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “I mean, the first player to have a 30-20-20 game. I couldn’t describe it, so don’t ask me to. He’s an incredible player, and when you’re one of the best in this league and in the tremendous history of this league, that says a lot. And there are many great players in this league, but Nikola, in my opinion, is a unique player.”
Nikola is one of a kind. You’ll never see anything like it again. You’ll never see a player do the things he does night in and night out.
Christian Braun (Nuggets player)
His teammate Christian Braun was amazed by the Serbian center’s latest historic display: “He’s one of a kind.” “You’ll never see anything like it again. You’ll never see a player do the things he does night in and night out.” Braun felt privileged to have received a pass from Jokic to score the triple that broke the game open: “Having Jokic trust me and pass the ball to me in that moment is really great.”