Inside The Nuggets

Nikola Jokic Makes NBA History in Hawks-Nuggets

Jokic writes his name in history with a triple-double performance against Atlanta

Liam Willerup

Dec 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Ball Arena.
Dec 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Ball Arena. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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It's not very often that you can throw around the term "generational" in sports, because if used too much, it wouldn't hold its value. In the NBA, there are really only a handful of generational talents that are playing in the game today. One of them happens to be playing in Denver, that being Nikola Jokic.

Despite being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, Jokic has far surpassed the expectations that would've been set if he was even the first overall selection. With three league MVPs to his name and a good chance of earning another before the end of his career, he built upon his status among the all-time greats of this game with his performance against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday night.

Nikola Jokic
Jan 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball in the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

With his triple-double against the Hawks tonight, Jokic's performance becomes the seventh-fastest triple-double in NBA history (in reference to player minutes). While an impressive feat, recording triple-double early in games is something he's familiar with.

According to the Guinness World Records, Jokic has the fastest triple-double in NBA history with a time of just 14 minutes and 33 seconds, doing so on February 15th, 2018, in Denver's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. To put that into perspective, that's just more than the length of an NBA quarter (12 minutes).

The only other active players that have recorded faster triple-doubles than Jokic tonight include himself, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, and Jokic's teammate Russell Westbrook.

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Liam Willerup
LIAM WILLERUP

A 2024 graduate of the University of Miami, Liam spent several years covering the University’s football and basketball teams. An avid basketball fan, you can find Liam on X @theleftyliam where he’s constantly sharing his thoughts.

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