DENVER, CO – The NBA has seen its fair share of dominant players throughout history—Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James—but what Nikola Jokić is doing right now might be something entirely different.
On Monday night, the Denver Nuggets secured a 125-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, but the biggest story was Jokić’s mind-bending 27-point, 14-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. According to Stathead, the Serbian superstar became the first player in NBA history to achieve this stat line in a single game.
At this point, it’s hard not to ask: Has Jokić broken the NBA?
Every night, he makes basketball look too easy, operating with an almost robotic efficiency. Heading into Monday’s game, he was already averaging 29.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game while shooting an insane 56.9% from the field, 46.8% from three, and 81.6% from the free-throw line.
These are not normal numbers.
Opposing teams have tried everything—double-teams, triple-teams, zone defenses, even full-court press—but nothing works. Jokić plays as if he sees the game five steps ahead of everyone else. His passes are so precise that defenders barely have time to react before the ball is already in his teammate’s hands. His footwork in the post is reminiscent of Hakeem Olajuwon, but with the added threat of a three-point shot.
The question now isn’t whether Jokić is the best player in the league—it’s whether the league even stands a chance against him anymore.
With 23 triple-doubles already this season, leading the NBA by a massive margin, Jokić is on pace to secure his fourth MVP in five years. If the Nuggets make another deep playoff run, it won’t be a surprise—it will be an inevitability.
At this point, what more can the NBA do? Should they introduce a “Jokić Rule” similar to the “Shaq Rule” that changed how teams could defend dominant big men? Should they force him to play with one hand tied behind his back just to level the playing field?
The reality is, Jokić isn’t just winning games—he’s redefining what dominance looks like in the modern NBA. And unless something changes, the rest of the league is just playing for second place.