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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic recorded the quickest triple-double in NBA history in 14 minutes and 33 seconds on Thursday, easily smashing Jim Tucker’s previous record of 17 minutes from 1955.
The 6’10 Serbian center functions as a de facto point guard for the Nuggets when their offense is flowing properly, and as Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks illustrated, it quickly allows Jokic to pile up statistics. That’s not to take away any credit from Jokic — to record 10-plus points, assists, and rebounds in less than 15 minutes felt impossible before Jokic pulled it off with ease.
In 2016, Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double in 19 minutes, still absurdly quick. Some records set in the 1950s are virtually unbreakable in today’s game, just because the game is played so differently in the modern era. When even Westbrook couldn’t get close — he had previously recorded one in 21 minutes in 2014 — I certainly thought that Tucker’s 17-minute triple-double might not be breakable.
But not so! Hello, Jokic, new NBA record holder.
Nikola Jokic reached a triple-double with 1:54 left in the second quarter.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 16, 2018
That's the fastest triple-double in the NBA in the past 20 seasons. pic.twitter.com/kCy9a03ZGn
Here’s how he got there.
Nikola Jokic (16 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST) notches his second consecutive triple-double and 11th of his career in just one half of action!#MileHighBasketball
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2018
Watch on #NBALeaguePass pic.twitter.com/8QiYJn9bIZ
Including this absolutely absurd pass.
Triple-double at HALFTIME
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 16, 2018
Reminder: Jokic plays center pic.twitter.com/5MC5iQieDG
This is Jokic’s second consecutive triple-double headed into the All-Star break — he notched a 23-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist one on Tuesday.
He’s good, folks.