Nikola Jokic continues to carve out his legacy among the NBA’s all-time greats, joining legendary company once again by leading a playoff series in points, rebounds, and assists for the ninth time in his career.
The Denver Nuggets star was nothing short of brilliant in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 24.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists while shooting 50.0% from the field and 45.2% from three over 40 minutes per game. It wasn’t just a statistical masterclass, it was a reminder that the reigning MVP remains one of the most complete and efficient postseason performers in basketball history.
Over the five-game series, Jokic accumulated 168 points, 81 rebounds, and 71 assists, along with 16 steals and six blocks. He led the entire series in four of the five major statistical categories, outshining every player on the court across the board.
While Denver got valuable contributions from role players like Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, it was Jokic’s orchestration of the offense, shot-making, and defensive awareness that ultimately overwhelmed the Clippers in Game 7.
With this latest all-around showcase, Jokic joins an elite group of players who’ve repeatedly led playoff series in points, rebounds, and assists. Only LeBron James ranks ahead of him historically in this category, having accomplished the feat an incredible 24 times. That places Jokic in rarefied air, with names like Larry Bird, Jason Kidd, and Magic Johnson well behind in similar metrics.
Jokic’s consistency in high-stakes games continues to be overlooked by casual fans, but not by those who understand basketball at a deeper level. In Game 7, while he finished with a modest 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, the attention he commanded opened up the floor for others.
Denver’s balanced attack, including 22 points from Gordon and 21 from Braun was possible because of Jokic’s unselfishness and gravitational pull on defenses.
This marks yet another postseason where Jokic has not only delivered numbers but elevated his team’s ceiling through sheer versatility.
His ability to read defenses, pick them apart from the elbow, dominate the boards, and make timely plays, whether through a pass, a shot, or a steal is what makes him unique in today’s NBA. Few centers in league history, if any, have blended scoring, playmaking, and rebounding at the elite level Jokic does.
What’s more impressive is how quietly he does it. There’s no flash to Jokic’s game, no over-the-top celebration, no viral moments. Just elite production night after night.
While players like LeBron continue to dominate headlines with their longevity and iconic status, Jokic is quietly building one of the most statistically absurd playoff resumes in recent memory.
With the Nuggets now set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2, Jokic will look to add to his legend. If he leads another series in all major categories, he’ll move into double digits in a list that, outside of LeBron, few even approach.
The Joker isn’t just rewriting Denver Nuggets history, he’s shaping NBA postseason history, one triple-double at a time.
