Nikola Jokic Reaches the 65 Games Required for NBA Award Eligibility
Apr 13, 2026
Nicolas Flamecourt
Nikola Jokic Achieves Historic NBA Feat: First Player to Lead in Both Rebounds and Assists in a Single Season
Nikola Jokic makes NBA history by becoming the first player to finish as both the league's top rebounder and top assist provider in the same season. The Serbian center for the Denver Nuggets cements his dominance with outstanding statistics.
Photo Credit : © Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Nikola Jokic has accomplished the unthinkable. With just 18 minutes of play against the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets center wrapped up a historic 2025-2026 season by becoming the first player in NBA history to simultaneously lead the league in both rebounds and assists in the same season.
Averages of 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game place the Serbian in a league of his own. The eighth-leading scorer of the season, Jokic completely dominates the rebounding and assists categories, achieving a feat that even the greatest legends had never accomplished.
A Record No One Had Ever Achieved Before
Neither Russell Westbrook, nor Oscar Robertson, nor even Wilt Chamberlain had ever pulled off such a performance. All left their mark on history through their versatility and triple-doubles, but none had managed to dominate both rebounding and playmaking over a full season.
The three-time MVP continues to push the boundaries of basketball, confirming his unique impact on the court. Able to orchestrate the offense while dominating in the paint, Jokic is putting together a run never seen before in NBA history.
This exceptional performance comes at a time when the public sometimes takes for granted the achievements of those who have excelled for several years. Yet the Serbian has never looked stronger than he does today, piling up records and standout performances.
The first player in NBA HISTORY to lead the league in both RPG and APG.
Nikola Jokic is 1 of 1. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xIo2nnHfJ2
— theScore (@theScore) April 13, 2026
An Even Stronger MVP Case
By also surpassing the required threshold of 65 games played, Nikola Jokic remains fully eligible for end-of-season awards. With another triple-double average season and this unprecedented feat, he has significantly strengthened his case for a fourth MVP trophy.
His triple-double average season last year was not enough to earn him the most coveted individual award. This time, with this additional historic record, every box appears to be checked for the Nuggets center. The question remains whether this unprecedented statistical dominance will be enough to sway voters, or whether his sustained excellence at the top will work against him.
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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