Nikola Jokic makes NBA history with one of the craziest games ever
Mar 7, 2025, 11:15 PM | Updated: 11:50 pm
DENVER—Nikola Jokic became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points, snag 20 rebounds and throw 20 assists in the same game, doing so in the Denver Nuggets 149-141 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
Jokic scored 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting, 3-of-7 from the three and 2-of-3 from the line as he snagged 21 rebounds and dished out a career-high 22 assists. It was the second-most assists in Nuggets history to Fat Lever’s 23, who was in the house to be celebrated as a franchise icon. But nobody who has played hoops in the Mile High City is as iconic as Jokic and this may go down as his most legendary game.
It marks the most assists in a game ever by a center, passing a mark Wilt Chamberlain had set. The occasion was just the third-ever 20-20-20 game, joining Wilt and Russell Westbrook—let alone the extra 10 points. And Jokic now ties Oscar Robertson with 15 times of reaching 15-15-15.
“When you’re one of one in this league, with the great history of this league, that says something,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone shared after the game.
Jokic either joked or genuinely asked Westbrook if he had ever accomplished a 30-20-20, according to what Malone overheard.
31 POINTS.
21 REBOUNDS.
22 ASSISTS.THE FIRST-EVER 30+ PT, 20+ REB, 20+ AST GAME IN NBA HISTORY 🚨
NIKOLA JOKIĆ IS TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/I982bZePiF
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2025
“I mean, thank you guys, I think I’m gonna see this and think about this when my career is over,” Jokic told ESPN. “It’s some kind of legacy that’s gonna be nice when I finish my career and I had a really good game.”
Malone talks about how special Jokic is “one of one, class of his own.” pic.twitter.com/3y3jH8pxGn
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) March 8, 2025
“It’s just so insane that he’s able to do it, like, quietly. Because it’s just, like, it’s like a quiet 30-20-20,” Aaron Gordon said after the game. “It’s nuts, dude. Insane playing next to him is special, man. He’s just incredible.”
