In an era defined by positionless basketball, Nikola Jokić is redefining what it means to be a center — and doing it in historic fashion.
During the 2022–23 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets superstar etched his name into the record books by becoming the first center since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 to lead the entire NBA in total assists. Yes — not a point guard, not a wing, but a 7-foot, 280-pound center known just as much for his no-look dimes as his soft touch around the rim.
🧠 A Genius in the Paint
Jokić finished the season with 744 total assists, averaging 9.8 assists per game — slightly below James Harden’s league-leading 10.7 average, but enough to top all players in total volume due to games played and consistency.
He accomplished this while also averaging:
24.5 points per game
11.8 rebounds per game
63.2% field goal percentage
Triple-double average over the season
Those numbers made him the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double on over 60% shooting — and he did it from the center position.
His combination of scoring efficiency and elite passing makes him arguably the most complete offensive player in the NBA today.
🐐 Wilt Comparison: Rare Company
To understand the gravity of Jokić’s feat, you have to go back over five decades. The last center to lead the league in assists was Wilt Chamberlain, who did it in the 1967–68 season, dishing out 702 assists. Wilt’s goal that season was to silence critics who said he was selfish — and he did so with force.
But Jokić doesn’t have to prove anything. His passing is not a gimmick — it’s the foundation of Denver’s offense. Every possession flows through him at the top of the key, the elbow, or the post, and defenders are caught in a constant guessing game: will he score? Or thread a pass no one else on the floor saw?
> “He sees the game like a point guard,” said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. “He’s a basketball savant.”
🏆 MVP-Caliber Production
Jokić’s wizardry helped power the Denver Nuggets to a 53–29 record and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, ultimately culminating in the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship.
He was named the 2023 NBA Finals MVP, averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the playoffs. His dominance was surgical — not loud or flashy — but impossible to stop.
Despite finishing second in regular season MVP voting to Joel Embiid, many argued Jokić had the more complete season, especially considering the postseason success that followed.
📈 Changing the Center Position Forever
In a league where big men were once expected only to score in the post or block shots, Jokić is leading a revolution. His style of play — unselfish, deliberate, intelligent — has transformed the traditional center role into something far more dynamic.
He runs the fast break like a point guard
He passes out of double-teams with precision
He reads defenses like a chess master three moves ahead
Young big men like Domantas Sabonis, Alperen Şengün, and Bam Adebayo are modeling parts of their game after Jokić’s playmaking, showing his influence is already reshaping the next generation.
