Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Nikola Jokić was born on February 19, 1995, in Sombor, Serbia. He is a center in the NBA.

A five-time NBA All-Star, he has been named to the All-NBA Team on five occasions (including three first-team selections), and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team.

Nicknamed "the Joker", Jokić was selected by the Nuggets in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft. He was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2016. In the 2018–19 NBA season, while leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals, he received his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections. The following season, he once again received All-Star and All-NBA honors, while leading his team to the Western Conference Finals. In the 2022–23 NBA season, he was awarded NBA Western Conference Finals MVP after leading the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. Jokić ranks among the top 10 on the all-time list of the NBA players with the most triple-doubles (regular season and playoffs), where he is the leading European player and center, and he holds the record for fastest triple-double (achieved in 14 minutes and 33 seconds). He also won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

On July 1, 2022, Jokić agreed to a five-year $264 million supermax contract extension with the Nuggets, making it the richest deal in NBA history. On October 21, in the second game of the regular season Jokić posted his 77th career triple-double with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 128–123 win over the reigning champions Golden State Warriors. In the very next game, Jokić had another triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 122–117 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder; equaling Chamberlain for sixth all-time and most by a center with 78. On November 3, Jokić put up 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 122–110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder; surpassing Chamberlain for the most triple-doubles all time by a center with 79. On November 23, Jokić posted 39 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, as the Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 131–126 overtime win. On December 10, Jokić recorded his 80th career triple-double with 31 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists and four blocks in a 115–110 win over the Utah Jazz. He became only the second player in NBA history to put up at least 31/12/14/4 in a game after James. On December 14, Jokić scored a season-high 43 points on 17-of-20 shooting from the field, along with 14 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals in a 141–128 win over the Washington Wizards. On December 18, Jokić put up a triple-double with 40 points, a career-high 27 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 119–115 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He also became the first NBA player since Chamberlain in 1968 to put up at least 35 points, 25 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game. On December 25, Jokić dropped 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a 128–125 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns. He became only the third player in NBA history to record a 40-point, 15-rebound and 15-assist game, joining Robertson and Harden.

On January 1, 2023, Jokić recorded his 85th career triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and zero turnovers on 10-of-13 shooting, 2-of-2 from three, 8-of-8 from the free throw line in a 123–111 win over the Boston Celtics. He became the first player in NBA history to have multiple games of at least 30 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds without a turnover. On January 6, Jokić recorded a triple-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 121–108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also joined Robertson, Westbrook, and Johnson as the only players in NBA history to record at least 10 triple-doubles in six different seasons. On January 9, Jokić put up a triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 shooting from the free throw line in a 122–109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first player in NBA history to put up at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists on 100% shooting from the field in a game. On January 15, Jokić made a game-winning three-pointer in a 119–116 win over the Orlando Magic. On January 17, Jokić posted a triple double with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on 13-of-14 shooting from the field in a 122–113 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He became the first player in NBA history to put up two 35-point triple-doubles while shooting 90% from the field. The next day, Jokić recorded his 90th career triple-double and second in a row with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists in a 122–118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he surpassed Alex English (3,679) to become the Nuggets' all-time assists leader. He also became the first center in NBA history to lead a franchise in career assists. On January 26, Jokić was named a Western Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fifth consecutive selection and third in a row as a starter. On January 31, Jokić had his 92nd career triple-double with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists in a 122–113 win over the New Orleans Hornets. For his play in January, Jokić was named Western Conference Player of the Month for the fifth time in his career, making him the leader for most Player of the Month honors in Nuggets franchise history. With eight triple-doubles in January, he joined Chamberlain as the only centers in NBA history to record eight or more triple doubles in a single month. Jokić also became the first player to have shooting splits of 65% from the field, 50% from three and 85% from the free throw line in a month.

On February 2, Jokić recorded his 93rd career triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 16 assists in a 134–117 win over the reigning champions Golden State Warriors. He became one of just seven players in NBA history to post back-to-back games of 20 points or more, 10-plus rebounds and 15-plus assists, joining the likes of Robertson, Johnson, Westbrook, James, Harden and Luka Dončić. On February 15, Jokić and the Nuggets won their 25th straight game when he has a triple-double. That is the most consecutive team wins when a player has a triple-double in NBA history, passing Johnson and the Lakers from 1984–87. On February 23, first game after the All-Star Weekend, Jokić logged a triple-double with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in a 115–109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. On February 26, Jokić had 40 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals in a 134–124 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The next game, he recorded his 100th career triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 133–112 win over the Houston Rockets, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to have accomplished the feat. By winning the Western Conference Player of the Month for February, Jokić became the first player in Nuggets' franchise history to win the award in back-to-back months.

On March 12, Jokić posted 35 points, 20 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in a 134–124 loss against the Brooklyn Nets. He became the first player since the NBA-ABA merger to put up multiple games of at least 35 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a single season and third in NBA history after Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. On March 27, Jokić scored 25 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 12 assists in a 116–111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He joined Chamberlain and Robertson as the only other players in NBA history to total 10+ games in a season of at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. On April 9, He finished the regular season achieving career-highs in field goal percentage (.632 FG%) and assists per game (9.8), leading the Nuggets to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Jokić led the league in triple-doubles (29), finishing as the only player to ever average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on at least 60% shooting over a single season. He also became Denver’s all-time single-season leader in field goal percentage (63.2%), effective field goal percentage (66%) and true shooting (70.1%) while topping the league leaderboard in player efficiency rating, win shares, offensive win shares, box plus-minus, offensive box plus-minus, defensive box plus-minus, and value over replacement player.

In Game 2 of the Nuggets' first round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jokić recorded 27 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a 122–113 win. He also became the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists through their first 50 career playoff games. In Game 3, Jokić logged his seventh career playoff triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a 120–111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, to lead the Nuggets to a 3–0 series lead. Two days later, he tied his then playoff career-high with 43 points along with 11 rebounds and six assists in a 114–108 Game 4 overtime loss. In Game 5, Jokić had his eight career playoff triple-double with 28 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, two steals and two blocks in a 112–109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, leading the Nuggets to the second round of the playoffs. He became just the fifth player in NBA history to record a 25-15-10 stat line in a clinching opportunity. Jokić joined Robertson (1963), Chamberlain (1967), James Worthy (1988), and James (2020) in that exclusive group.

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Jokić recorded 24 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists in a 125–107 win over the Phoenix Suns. Two days later in Game 2, Jokić scored 39 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, dished out five assists along with two steals in a 97–87 win, leading the Nuggets to a 2–0 series lead. In Game 3, Jokić put up a triple-double with 30 points, 17 rebounds, and a playoff career-high 17 assists in a 121–114 loss. He became the first player in NBA history to record 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 15+ assists in a playoff game. He also tied Chamberlain's record for the most playoff triple-doubles in NBA history by a center with nine. In Game 4, Jokić put up a playoff career-high 53 points and 11 assists in a 129–124 loss. He surpassed Alex English to become the Nuggets' all-time leader in playoff points. He also became the first center in NBA history to put up at least 50 points and 10 assists in a playoff game. He also joined Chamberlain as the only centers in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a playoff game. After Game 4, Jokić was fined $25,000 by the NBA for “improper contact with a spectator sitting courtside” during the game, when he made contact with Suns owner Mat Ishbia after unsuccessfully trying to retrieve a ball that had gone off court. However, he was not given a suspension. In Game 5, Jokić put up a triple-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists in a 118–102 win, breaking a tie with Chamberlain for the most playoff triple-doubles in NBA history by a center with his tenth. In Game 6, Jokić put up a triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 125–100 win to lead the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals. He joined James and Westbrook as the only players to average a 30-plus point triple-double in a playoff series as Jokić finished with 34.5 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 10.3 apg in Denver’s 4–2 series win over Phoenix. After the game former NBA Most Valuable Player Award winner Durant told reporters about Jokić: "Jokić is an all-time great. He's gonna go down as one of the all-time great centers to ever touch a basketball."

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Jokić posted a triple-double with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists in a 132–126 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He tied Westbrook for third place all-time in playoff triple-doubles with 12. Jokić also became the only player in NBA postseason history to log multiple 30-point, 20-rebound triple-doubles. In Game 2, Jokić had his fourth consecutive triple-double and seventh triple-double of these playoffs with 23 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 steals in a 108–103 win. He became the second player to post four consecutive triple-doubles in NBA playoff history and is now one of just two players to tally seven triple-doubles in one postseason along with Wilt Chamberlain. Jokić also surpassed Westbrook to stand alone on third all-time in playoff triple-doubles. In Game 4, Jokić posted his 14th career playoff triple-double and 8th of this playoffs breaking Chamberlain's 1967 NBA record for triple-doubles in a single postseason. He finished the game with 30 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 3 blocks in a 113–111 win. Jokić was awarded his first NBA Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, achieving triple-double series averages of 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists while leading the Nuggets to a sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers en route to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. He also joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double in back-to-back playoffs series.

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Jokić posted a triple-double with 27 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 104–93 win over the Miami Heat. He joined Jason Kidd as the only players in NBA history to put up a triple-double in their NBA Finals debuts. He and Jamal Murray also became only the second pair of teammates in NBA history to each put up at least 25 points and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game since Magic Johnson and James Worthy in the 1987 NBA Finals. In Game 2, Jokić put up 41 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in a 111–108 loss. He joined LeBron James and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to put up at least 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 150 assists in a single postseason run. He also became the first center in NBA history to put up at least 500 points and 100 assists in a single postseason run. In Game 3, Jokić became the first player in NBA history to record 30+ points, 20+ rebounds and 10+ assists in a Finals game. He finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Nuggets past the Heat in a 109–94 win. It was his 10th triple-double of this postseason. Jokić is also responsible for three of the five 30-20-10 playoff games ever, with two of those coming in these playoffs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain each have one. Jokić and Jamal Murray also became the first teammates in NBA history (regular season or playoffs) to record 30-point triple-doubles in the same game, with the latter also posting a 30-point triple-double in Game 3. In Game 4, Jokić put up 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks in a 108–95 win over the Heat. He also became the first player in NBA history to put up at least 500 points, 250 rebounds, and 150 assists in a single postseason run. In Game 5, Jokić put up 28 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists in a 94–89 win over the Heat, leading the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history while winning Finals MVP. He was unanimously voted as Finals MVP and became the lowest draft pick in NBA history to win this award.