Nikola Jokic has been named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 23, the NBA announced Monday. It’s the third time this season the Nuggets big man has taken home the honor and the 20th time in his career — the most in franchise history.
The performances from the week are back to the classic gaudy numbers were used to. Jokic averaged 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds and 14.0 assists while shooting 56.3% from the field and 43.8% from three, leading Denver to a perfect 4-0 record.
The highlight of the week came on March 25th against Dallas, when Jokic put up 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists. He became the first player in NBA history to post 20+ points, 17+ rebounds and 17+ assists in consecutive games, doing so with tips times less than 24 hours apart.
He followed that up with a 33-point, 16-rebound, 12-assist triple-double against Utah before capping the week with 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight dimes against Golden State.
On the season, Jokic is averaging 27.9 points, a career-high 12.9 rebounds and a career-high 10.8 assists. He leads the NBA in assists and rebounds per game and has racked up a league-leading 31 triple-doubles.
Oh, and he’s now just 15 triple-doubles away from surpassing Russell Westbrook’s all-time record of 209. Something he should do next year.
This is the greatest basketball player on the planet doing things no one has ever done before. Week after week. Year after year.
Enjoy it, Denver — even if this level won’t win him the MVP.
