Jokic makes incredible history with playoff performance

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) warms up before Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Nikola Jokic makes incredible NBA history with playoff performance

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 6/12/23

Nikola Jokic proved to be another level of dominant after his performance in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. While leading the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history — a span that stretched 46 years — Jokic also made NBA history in the process.

Following the Nuggets' series-sealing 94-89 win in Game 5 against the Miami Heat, it was revealed just how historic Jokic's postseason run was.

Jokic led the NBA in points (600), rebounds (269) and assists (190) during the postseason and became the first player in history to lead the playoffs in all three categories.

NIKOLA JOKIC…THIS IS UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/wKzql8dLc0
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 13, 2023

Jokic is a walking triple-double and posted two of them in the NBA Finals against the Heat. In the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he had three triple-doubles as the Nuggets went on the sweep LeBron James and company while averaging 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists per game.

For good measure, Jokic also averaged a triple double (34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 10.3 assists) in the second round against the Phoenix Suns and was just one assist shy of averaging a triple-double in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The dominance of the Denver's 28-year-old big man has been well-documented to this point, but 2023 was incredibly impressive for Jokic, even before factoring in the postseason.

He averaged 24.5 points on 63.2% shooting from the field, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 69 regular-season games. His play was simply on another level in the playoffs, though, with Jokic topping 30 points per game and a postseason-best 13.3 rebounds per game.

Following a dominant postseason run for the Nuggets, there's no reason to think this team won't be in contention for many years to come, and it's hard to debate that they won't be the favorites to go back-to-back and win the title again next year.

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