Nikola Jokić continues to write NBA history. After another triple-double in Denver’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Serbian center has officially taken first place in all key categories of this decade — points, rebounds, assists, and steals — according to data from the specialized X profile @NBAcrazystats.
Until now, no one in league history has ever finished a decade as the leader in four of the five basic statistical categories; the record was held by the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who led in three during the 1970s.
The numbers Jokić currently has in the 2020s seem unreal: 13,242 points, 6,030 rebounds, 4,326 assists, and 703 steals, all of that only from the 2019/20 season onward.
Jokić now leads this decade in total points, total rebounds, total assists, and total steals!
— Crazy Stats (@NBAcrazystats) November 20, 2025
No player in @NBA history has ever played a decade in which he led in 4 out of 5 major statistical categories. The record is 3, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 70s. https://t.co/fgROTb77bY pic.twitter.com/hfkv0WQp59
In the same period, he won three regular-season MVP awards, finished second in the voting once more, and in 2023 led Denver to the first title in franchise history, earning the Finals MVP award.
According to the latest data from American media, this season he is averaging around 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists — a triple-double average over an entire season — along with stretches of games in which he breaks his own efficiency records.
That this is a historic precedent is best illustrated by the “each decade” table published by the same source. For the 2010s, the leaders were LeBron James in points, DeAndre Jordan in rebounds, Russell Westbrook in assists, Chris Paul in steals, and Serge Ibaka in blocks. In the 2000s the dominant names were Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and again Duncan as the king of blocks. In the 1990s it was Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman, John Stockton (in both assists and steals), and Hakeem Olajuwon. Earlier still, the 1980s belonged to Alex English, Bill Laimbeer, Magic Johnson, Alvin Robertson, and Mark Eaton, while in the 1970s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Norm Van Lier, and Rick Barry set records.
The list also includes the “pre-decades” of the NBA: in the 1960s Wilt Chamberlain was unrivaled in points and rebounds, with Oscar Robertson as the assists leader; in the 1950s Dolph Schayes dominated alongside Bob Cousy, and in the 1940s Joe Fulks and George Senesky reigned.
None of those greats — from Wilt and Magic to LeBron and Kobe — managed to “sweep” the statistics of their era the way the center from Sombor is doing now, who, moreover, is still not even 31 years old.
Every decade:
— Crazy Stats (@NBAcrazystats) November 20, 2025
2020s
Points – Nikola Jokić
Rebounds – Nikola Jokić
Assists – Nikola Jokić
Steals – Nikola Jokić
Blocks – Myles Turner
2010s
Points – LeBron James
Rebounds – DeAndre Jordan
Assists – Russell Westbrook
Steals – Chris Paul
Blocks – Serge Ibaka
2000s
Points – Kobe… https://t.co/ZiJlP3Yi9V
Because of all this, numerous American sports portals write that Jokić is “redefining NBA history” and that he may already be the best basketball player of the 2020s, and even a candidate for the status of the greatest of all time if he wins a few more rings with the Nuggets.
To recall, this is a player whom Denver selected in 2014 only as the 41st pick in the draft, while a Taco Bell commercial was running during the TV broadcast.
Today, that quiet guy from Sombor stands shoulder to shoulder with Kareem, Jordan, and LeBron in the statistical books, and the numbers suggest that in the years to come his story could become even more unbelievable.
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Source: Serbian Times; Foto: AP