DENVER — Nikola Jokić now stands alone among centers.
The Denver Nuggets superstar broke the NBA record Thursday for career regular-season assists by a center, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Jokić has amassed 5,667 assists in 771 games. Abdul-Jabbar compiled 5,660 assists, but he did so in a total of 1,560 games with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Asked how much joy he derives from setting the record, Jokić answered, “In this moment, not a lot, because you don’t have time to think about it.”
Jokić led the Nuggets to a 126-115 victory over the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena, and he did it in typical Jokić fashion with his 177th career triple-double. He scored 23 points, collected 11 rebounds and dished out 13 assists.
He broke Abdul-Jabbar’s record with 6:26 remaining in Thursday’s second quarter, firing a pass to teammate Jalen Pickett, who was stationed at the left break of the 3-point line. Pickett caught the basketball and elevated, swishing his jumper.
Pickett’s 3-pointer helped Denver end the second quarter on a 35-7 run to take control of the game.
An informal list of the greatest passing centers in NBA history includes Wilt Chamberlain, who led the league in total assists during the 1967-68 season, with 702.
Chamberlain ranks third all-time among centers in assists, with 4,643. Bill Russell ranks fourth, with 4,100.
Other great passing centers include Bill Walton, whose career was marred by injuries, and Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis, who joined the NBA at 30 years old.
Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles and the league MVP award six times.
On Feb. 7, 2023, LeBron James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
And now, Jokić has passed Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time assist leader among centers.
“I think it’s such a cool thing because it’s Kareem, who was passed by LeBron as the all-time leading scorer, which puts in perspective who Nikola passed,” Denver coach David Adelman said. “So it’s a celebration of both people. It’s somebody that completely changed the game, with the skyhook, the longevity he played. In the modern era, we talk about Tom Brady and all these people. Go look at Kareem.”
Jokić arguably made the biggest single play of Thursday’s Magic-Nuggets game. After Denver’s lead shrank to 121-115 with 1:32 remaining in the game, Jokić did what he arguably does best: pass.
The Magic double-teamed Jokić, sending Paolo Banchero to trap him alongside Wendell Carter Jr. Jokić hurled a pass to the left corner of the court, where Cam Johnson caught the ball, elevated and swished a 3-pointer that put the game out of reach.
“It was tough,” Carter said. “We were trying to speed the game up, so that’s why we trapped. But that’s what he does. He’s one of the best to do it.”
Jokić has the record to prove it.
“He just does exactly the right thing for his teammates,” Adelman said.
A total of 5,667 times — and counting.