Triple Doubles

[NuggetsWY]

#1 Sure, we expect triple doubles from Jokic - but how many? Can he get 15? Maybe 20?

#2 Which other Nuggets might get at least one triple double? I'm not certain any other Nuggets are likely to get a triple double.

[nayyyyyyyyo09]

#1 Sure, we expect triple doubles from Jokic - but how many? Can he get 15? Maybe 20?

#2 Which other Nuggets might get at least one triple double? I'm not certain any other Nuggets are likely to get a triple double.

The other nugget that could get a triple double (hear me out) is Jamal Murray. Of course the circumstances would have to be perfect. I think Jokic would have to be out a game or two, and the rest of the team would have to excel for this to happen. Murray is our PG of the future on an offense where he doesn’t have to be the point guard. But let’s say Jokic misses a week, and Murray is asked to facilitate more often. He can obviously put up the points on any given night, the assists would have to come early and often but he could reach double digits in that category too. Only thing he is would have trouble doing is getting 10 rebounds but every nba game has plenty of rebounds up for grabs and he just gained 15 lbs of muscle. Murray is also very athletic compared to what a lot of people think and his vertical is quite impressive for someone his size. I’m putting my money on Murray.

[THE J0KER]

Jokic triple doubles are a much more important thing than people thinks. It is not about the number, but about timing. When Jokic runs Denver offense on the way as he should do it, he achieves TDs about once per week. But he never achieved any triple-double in the first half of the season (before season's game #42), which means every season Malone started with Jokic on the wrong way.

If Jokic starts to collect TD's already since October, it would be the best sign team finally playing on the right way since the start of the season. Actually, instead of counting triple-doubles, it is easier just to check Jokic pts and assists stats per game. It should be at least 17+7+ this season, or we have a problem with Malone once again.

[skywalker33]

I'm more interested in wins than triple-doubles. Nice fun stat but if our team has 50 TD's and only 42 wins, does it matter ???

[NuggetsWY]

I'm more interested in wins than triple-doubles. Nice fun stat but if our team has 50 TD's and only 42 wins, does it matter ???

I would say that wins are most important but that we are unlikely to get a lot of wins without Jokic's rebounds and assists - his points will happen but they are not the stat, I'll be watching. Rebounds are hard work and assists means he has the ball in his hands and other players are moving without the ball. Those are the keys in my opinion.

[THE J0KER]

I'm more interested in wins than triple-doubles. Nice fun stat but if our team has 50 TD's and only 42 wins, does it matter ???

The tricky part is that triple-doubles are very "special" stats.

Westbrook achieves TD-seasons in averages in past two years, but he didn't make TD every match, but in 67 cases (in 94 not). In games when Russ achieve TD, Oklahoma has 79% winning record past two seasons (53-14), but just 42% when no TD from Westbrook (40-54). In Jokic career case winning record is 14-2 (88%) when he achieves TD.

But as I say already, better to be focused on 17+7+ type of Jokic games. Believe or not, but Nikola achieved so far only 29 such games (winning 76%, 22-7), only because such type of game Malone used to use only since February in past two seasons. 17+ pts means that Jokic is enough aggressive, and 7+ assists are some kind of proof that he runs our offense that day. With Jokic doing 17+7+ at the same time is what we need as the "new normal" in Denver this season since the early start, which means more than half games from Jokic should be 17+7+, including season-ending average!

Talking about other Nuggets chances to achieve some TD - I really don't want to see it! Simply because best chances have Plumlee if he plays 30+ minutes, and the only way he will take much playing time is Jokic injury... so, no, thanks! Talking about the future, the only other contender I see doing maybe some TD in Nuggets are Jarred Vanderbilt, if he really rises into Draymond Green or Lamar Odom type of player as many hopes.

[NuggetsWY]

I'd be happy if Jokic averaged 18 pts 12 rebs 8 assists - but like Joker & Sky say --- from the beginning of the year.

[THE J0KER]

2016-17 Triple-Double TOP5
42 Russell Westbrook
22 James Harden
13 LeBron James
6 Nikola Jokic
5 Draymond Green

2017-18 Triple-Double TOP5
25 Russell Westbrook
18 LeBron James
12 Ben Simmons
10 Nikola Jokic
4 James Harden

2018-19 Triple-Double TOP5 (prediction)
25 Russell Westbrook
20 Nikola Jokic
19 LeBron James
19 Ben Simmons
10 James Harden

If we count 2018 year only, Jokic stats are 20-11-7, and NBA triple-double rankings since January 1st are:
13 Russell Westbrook
11 LeBron James
10 Nikola Jokic
8 Ben Simmons
2 James Harden

20-11-7 is what I expecting for Jokic in 2018-19 as the season average, which would produce about 20 triple-doubles. But in better case scenario where Joker achieves 20-12-8 numbers in the upcoming season, he will for sure join the NBA all-time TOP10 list for most triple-doubles in a single season ranked between #3-#7.
42 (2016-17) Russell Westbrook
41 (1961-62) Oscar Robertson
31 (1967-68) Wilt Chamberlain
26 (1963-64) Oscar Robertson
26 (1960-61) Oscar Robertson
25 (2017-18) Russell Westbrook
22 (2016-17) James Harden
22 (1966-67) Wilt Chamberlain
22 (1964-65) Oscar Robertson
20 (1962-63) Oscar Robertson

[NuggetsWY]

2016-17 Triple-Double TOP5
42 Russell Westbrook
22 James Harden
13 LeBron James
6 Nikola Jokic
5 Draymond Green

2017-18 Triple-Double TOP5
25 Russell Westbrook
18 LeBron James
12 Ben Simmons
10 Nikola Jokic
4 James Harden

2018-19 Triple-Double TOP5 (prediction)
25 Russell Westbrook
20 Nikola Jokic
19 LeBron James
19 Ben Simmons
10 James Harden

If we count 2018 year only, Jokic stats are 20-11-7, and NBA triple-double rankings since January 1st are:
13 Russell Westbrook
11 LeBron James
10 Nikola Jokic
8 Ben Simmons
2 James Harden

20-11-7 is what I expecting for Jokic in 2018-19 as the season average, which would produce about 20 triple-doubles. But in better case scenario where Joker achieves 20-12-8 numbers in the upcoming season, he will for sure join the NBA all-time TOP10 list for most triple-doubles in a single season ranked between #3-#7.
42 (2016-17) Russell Westbrook
41 (1961-62) Oscar Robertson
31 (1967-68) Wilt Chamberlain
26 (1963-64) Oscar Robertson
26 (1960-61) Oscar Robertson
25 (2017-18) Russell Westbrook
22 (2016-17) James Harden
22 (1966-67) Wilt Chamberlain
22 (1964-65) Oscar Robertson
20 (1962-63) Oscar Robertson

All I can say is "Wow!". Those are realistic projections and I did not realize how elite those numbers were.

[U hova]

It felt like Jokic had something close to a 5 game streak of near triple doubles that stretch in early February when Malone finally stopped calling plays.

If he got 10 this season with a half season lost, I can certainly see 20 with a full season of competent coaching.

[THE J0KER]

Career#17, Season#1

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[skywalker33]

That's ONE !!!!

[THE J0KER]

Once again Jokic has the more impressive 2nd half of the season than 1st ones. Since January 1st Jokic played 22 games achieving 10 triple doubles with amazing 24-12-8 numbers. During October-December Joker played 34 games but achieves only 2 TD despite not bad 18-10-7 stats (but with several games where he missed just one pass, rebound or FGM to make TD).

I predicted Jokic 20 triple-doubles this season, and how he playing in 2019 only, it seems like a realistic goal now (needs 8 in the remaining 25 games after ASG). Also, I don't see any reason for Denver changing current Jokic-(point)centric system, so why not expect several 20+ TD seasons for Jokic during career. Which means he should overtake everyone from current history books except Westbrook and Robertson! Out of active players, Ben Simmons has also skills to overtake Magic Johnson for TOP3 ever, but much will depend on who is his teammates during career. In past 8 games, since Sixers create a superteam, Simmons doesn't have any game with more than 8 rebounds or 8 assists (which means zero double-doubles, not just zero TD's). Luka Doncic career TD-case may be very interesting, but I doubt he will ever be in a better position than Jokic or Westbrook to made TD's.

Here is a current all-time list, Jokic should join TOP10 already next month:

181 Oscar Robertson
138 Magic Johnson
127 Russell Westbrook
107 Jason Kidd
78 LeBron James
78 Wilt Chamberlain
59 Larry Bird
43 Fat Lever*
41 James Harden
31 Rajon Rondo________TOP10
29 Grant Hill
28 John Havlicek
28 Michael Jordan
28 Nikola Jokic
25 Clyde Drexler
24 Elgin Baylor
23 Walt Frazier
22 Draymond Green
21 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
21 Kobe Bryant
21 Chris Webber