Nikola Jokic Inches Closer to Wilt Chamberlain Leaving Bill Russell Behind in an Elusive NBA Record

On Friday,  Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets faced a 105-86 loss to the Houston Rockets. With victories by the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans, the Nuggets are no longer in the running for the first NBA In-Season Tournament title. Finishing with a 2-2 record, they hold the third position in West Group B.

Despite that, the two-time MVP walked away from the loss with a personal milestone. This elusive NBA record has him firmly among the greatest centers to have ever played the game. 

Nikola Jokic leaves Bill Russell in dust inching closer to Wilt Chamberlain 

Recently in n X post by Basketball News, Jokic’s milestone was shared. “Nikola Jokic passes Bill Russell to become 3rd in all-time NBA assists by a center,” they wrote in the caption. 

Before the game, Nikola Jokic had amassed 4,093 career assists. In the recent match, he surpassed Jojo White (4,095) and Bill Russell (4,100), securing the 117th spot on the all-time list. Reggie Miller is the next milestone for Jokic to surpass. This places him only 500 assists shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record. Going into the game, Jokic maintained impressive averages of 27.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, with a shooting accuracy of 57.9% from the field and 30.3% from three-point range.

Known as one of the greatest passers in the history of the game, Jokic has maintained an average of 6.7 assists over 611 regular-season games. The Nuggets currently hold a 10-6 record in their first 15 games, placing them as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

However, the finals MVP’s effectiveness is in question without Jamal Murray. 

Jokic lacks firepower without Murray

The Joker delivered a remarkable performance in the game against Houston. However, similar to the previous match against the Rockets, his efforts couldn’t secure a victory for the Nuggets. In the previous encounter, despite Jokic achieving a historic triple-double with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists, Denver suffered a loss to the Rockets. In the recent game, Jokic continued to shine with an impressive stat line of 38 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 assists. This highlights the crucial role of Jokic’s co-star, Jamal Murray, in the success of the Denver Nuggets.

Read More: Is Nikola Jokic More Efficient Than Michael Jordan? Assessing JJ Redick’s GOAT Claims With 3 Compelling Arguments

 The duo, Jokic and Murray, demonstrated their prowess as the best pair in the NBA by clinching the NBA Championship last season. However, tonight’s result underscores the importance of having Murray back in the lineup for the Nuggets to have a shot at winning back-to-back championships.

Watch This Story:   Nikola Jokic’s “World Champions” Ring Unveiled, as NBA Fans Trash the $100,000+ Worth Prized Possession: “Look Cheap”