Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic became the first player to record 43 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals in a game while shooting at least 50% from the field since Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird.
In the Nuggets’ 141-128 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, the four-time All-Star posted this stat line in 33 minutes played. Also, he finished 17-of-20 (85%) shooting from the floor.
Per multiple NBA betting sites, Nikola Jokic possesses the fifth-best odds to win MVP in 2023. A few sportsbooks show greater odds for Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jokic tonight:
43 PTS
14 REB
8 AST
4 STL
17-20 FGFirst player with 43/14/8/4 on 50 FG% since Larry Bird. Jokic shot 85% tonight. pic.twitter.com/0K2eSeaTo0
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 15, 2022
Of course, Jokic is the first player in NBA history to post a 43/14/8/5 stat line on 85% shooting. On Dec. 10, in Denver’s 115-110 win over the Utah Jazz, the center recorded his 80th career triple-double. He amassed 31 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists, and four blocks in 36 minutes played.
“I was rolling. Guys were finding me,” Jokic said after logging a career-high 43 points. “I played with Will [Barton] since I came here. Wes [Unseld Jr.] is a really good guy, really good friend of mine. And Monte, me and him we had a really good connection all the time when he was here.”
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the first player with a 43/14/8/5 stat line on at least 50% field goal shooting since Larry Bird
On February 14, 1986, in the Celtics’ 120-119 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Bird finished with 47 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, and two blocks in 49 minutes played. He shot 60.1% from the field.
Through 24 starts this season, Jokic is averaging 24.6 points, 10.3 boards, 9.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Plus, he’s shooting 30.5% from downtown and a career-best 63.4% from the floor.
Nikola Jokic:
“I played with Will [Barton] since I came here. Wes [Unseld Jr.] is a really good guy, really good friend of mine. And Monte, me and him we had a really good connection all the time when he was here.
So they’re always going to be in my heart.”#Nuggets #Wizards pic.twitter.com/lrIi519kqo
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) December 15, 2022
Not to mention, the two-time MVP has logged 18 double-doubles and four triple-doubles so far this season. Last season, Jokic led the NBA with a grand total of 19 triple-doubles.
At the moment, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic leads the league with six triple-doubles. However, both Doncic and Nikola Jokic trail Jayson Tatum in MVP odds right now.
Over a quarter into the 2022-23 season, the Nuggets are 17-10 and rank third overall in the Western Conference standings. With the eight-year veteran, Denver is one of the best teams in the West.
