Hours Before Game 2 Tip-Off, Nikola Jokic Eyes a 39-Year-Long NBA Finals Record Last Held by Magic Johnson

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic fell short of getting this season’s MVP award. The Serbian, however, is now in pursuit of greater glory. Having won the WCF MVP award, the Joker is getting closer to winning his own and also his franchise’s first-ever NBA ring. Jokic started the NBA Finals run right by leading his side to a commanding Game 1 win against the Miami Heat. The much-awaited Game 2 is hours away. If Jokic delivers a similar display to that of his Game 1 show, he will claim a record that was last claimed by Magic Johnson in 1984.

With his ongoing post-season run, Nikola Jokic has earned his stripes from many NBA legends out there. He is now just a game away from etching his name alongside the great Wilt Chamberlain and Magic Johnson.

Nikola Jokic is a game away from claiming Magic Johnson’s record

Denver’s Game 4 against the Lakers was special for many reasons. It was shortly after that game that Nikola Jokic was chosen as the WCF MVP. The Serbian, moreover, recorded his eighth triple-double in a single post-season during Game 4. The triple-double show turned out to be a new NBA record. With that display, he had surpassed the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, who set a triple-double record by claiming seven triple-doubles in 1967 during his 76ers stint.

During the 1967 season, Wilt Chamberlain set another triple-double record. Chamberlain recorded consecutive triple-doubles during the ’67 NBA Finals. It took 17 years for another player to dethrone Chamberlain.

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In the 1984 NBA Finals, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson went came up with consecutive triple-double performances. Given his consistency, Jokic is likely to record a triple-double in Game 2 as well. If the Denver star is able to do so, he will add to the 39-year-long record held by Chamberlain and Magic.

NBA on ESPN’s Instagram handle has posted about Jokic’s chances to join the legends.?“Nikola Jokic could join Magic Johnson(1984) and Wilt Chamberlain(1967) as the only players with consecutive triple-doubles in a Finals series,” NBA on ESPN wrote in the post. “Joker has a chance to join elite company in Game 2,” the caption read.

Given Nikola Jokic’s current post-season stint, it would come as quite surprising if he doesn’t add another triple-double to his tally. This update about a potential record claim has given the hoops community yet another reason to have their eyes glued on the screens for the Ball Arena faceoff.

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