Nikola Jokic Leads The Decade In Four Major Stat Categories

Fans debate a lot about the "best player in the NBA", whether it is in terms of the “G.O.A.T.” or MVP conversation, but here's something that should end the argument about who's owned the 2020s: Nikola Jokic has become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in four major statistical categories over a single decade. Let that sink in for a minute. He’s not just leading in one or two; he's topped everyone in points, rebounds, assists, and steals since 2020.

The Denver Nuggets' 30-year-old star big man has accumulated 13,242 points, 6,030 rebounds, 4,326 assists, and 703 steals this decade, besting stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant in their respective categories. In the 2010s, James led in just one category (points). In the 2000s, Kobe Bryant did the same. Even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1970s only led in three categories: points, rebounds, and blocks. What Jokic is doing has literally never been done before.

This season, he's somehow taken it to another level, averaging 29.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.8 assists while shooting an incredible 61/43/84 split. He's currently on pace to lead the league in both assists and rebounds, a mark that has never been accomplished before. The efficiency is what separates him from every other great. His 72 percent true shooting percentage, combined with his 28.6 usage rate, is unheard of.

For the Nuggets, though, individual accolades only matter so much. They're 19–6 and sitting second in the West behind the defending champion OKC Thunder, but Denver knows they need to cash in on Jokic's prime with another championship. The front office made significant moves this offseason, trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson, bringing back Bruce Brown, and finally giving Jokic a legitimate backup center in Jonas Valanciunas.

Jokic is playing the best basketball of his career at 30 years old, and Denver has arguably their deepest roster since winning it all in 2023. If they can stay healthy and find the right chemistry, there's no reason this team can't make another run. When you have a player doing things literally nobody in NBA history has done, you have to maximize that window. The Nuggets know it, and Jokic is giving them everything they need to raise another championship banner.