Nikola Jokic joins LeBron James, Russell Westbrook in exclusive club with triple-double vs. Wizards

Nikola Jokic's run as the best basketball player in the world reached another pinnacle on Thursday.

Entering the Nuggets' matchup against the Wizards, Jokic had recorded a triple-double against every NBA team he has faced except Washington.

Jokic has seemingly sleepwalked his way to averaging a near-triple-double of 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game this season, and his 16 triple-doubles are second to only Domantas Sabonis (18). However, he surpassed LeBron James for fourth on the all-time list earlier this year.

Now, after achieving the feat against the Wizards on Thursday, he has placed himself alongside James and Russell Westbrook in an exclusive triple-double club.

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Nikola Jokic triple-doubles: Nuggets star joins exclusive club vs. Wizards

Whether he would admit it or not, Jokic was playing like he was aware of the potential history he could make against the Wizards on Thursday.

One triple-double shy of achieving the feat against every non-Nuggets team in the NBA, Jokic nearly accomplished his goal at halftime, posting 10 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists by the midway point. He then assisted Aaron Gordon on Denver's first bucket in the second half to finish off the triple-double.

In doing so, Jokic joined James and Westbrook as the only three players in NBA history to register a triple-double against every opponent in the league.

Nikola Jokic has a triple-double vs. the Wizards.

He now has a triple-double against every team except the Nuggets 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zmYKIHAJXm

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 23, 2024

He finished with a jaw-dropping 21 points, 19 rebounds, and 15 assists while shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the field in a win over Washington.

"It's nice. It's special," Jokic said of his latest feat. "When I finish [my] career, it's going to be a legacy or something. It's a milestone."

Since James and Westbrook have both played for multiple teams, they are still in an exclusive club of their own. Both future Hall-of-Famers have recorded a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams — a feat Jokic wouldn't be able to accomplish unless he leaves the Nuggets.

James was the first player to do it back in 2019. Ironically, the Thunder, not the Cavaliers or Heat, were the final team he needed a triple-double against. James went for 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Lakers past Oklahoma City.

Westbrook joined James in history a year later in 2020. As a member of the Rockets, Westbrook went for 32 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds in a loss to the Thunder.

Most triple-doubles in NBA history

Jokic is starting to climb the NBA's all-time triple-doubles ladder. As mentioned above, he passed James to jump into fourth place earlier this season.

Jokic is just 17 triple-doubles shy of passing Magic Johnson, but he is still 60 away from Oscar Robertson and 77 (and counting) away from Westbrook's crown.