Nikola Jokic has made headlines once again, this time by surpassing a significant milestone in the NBA—he now holds the record for the most assists by a center. This remarkable achievement came to light during a game on Thursday night, where he credited his late coach, Dejan "Deki" Milojevic, for shaping his distinctive style of play.
"I always emphasize that an assist brings joy to two players," Jokic remarked after breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record during the Denver Nuggets' 126-115 victory over the Orlando Magic at Ball Arena. "That’s something my coach Deki always told me."
Milojevic sadly passed away from a heart attack on January 17, 2024, while serving as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. In memory of his mentor, Jokic often wears a shirt emblazoned with the word "Brate," which means "brother" in Serbian, and includes a heart design featuring Milojevic's initials.
As Jokic ascended from being a bench player to a starter, then an All-Star, and ultimately an NBA Champion and Finals MVP, he consistently applied the principles he learned from Milojevic. The very first of his 5,667 assists was recorded on October 30, 2015, when he set up Will Barton for a three-pointer during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His record-breaking assist, however, was delivered to Jalen Pickett, who scored a three-pointer in the second quarter of Thursday's match.
Bruce Brown expressed his disappointment upon learning he wasn’t the recipient of that historic assist: "Damn. I wish I could have been part of that moment."
Jokic’s ability to create easy scoring opportunities is what draws teammates back to the court, as Brown noted, saying, "When you play alongside him, it’s easier to get open looks since everyone’s eyes are on him."
While defenses constantly focus on Jokic, he remains adept at locating open teammates. In Thursday’s game, he racked up 13 assists distributed among seven different players, with Cam Johnson receiving five and Brown benefiting from three. Other players like Julian Strawther, Jonas Valanciunas, Jamal Murray, Spencer Jones, and Pickett also capitalized on Jokic’s precision passing.
Nuggets head coach David Adelman praised Jokic's unselfishness, stating, "He plays the game instinctively, making the right decisions for his teammates. If you're the open guy, he’ll trust you with the ball, regardless of your experience level. Knowing that the best player trusts you boosts everyone's performance."
Murray, who has greatly benefited from Jokic’s generous playing style, reflected on their journey together: "It’s really special to look back on all the years I've had the opportunity to play alongside him. Passing Kareem in any category is a remarkable achievement, underscoring his greatness and selflessness."
In a stunning moment during the game, Murray found himself on the receiving end of one of Jokic’s most extraordinary passes, although it didn’t officially count as an assist. Jokic executed a dazzling behind-the-back pass after skillfully navigating through full-court pressure, which ultimately led to Murray taking too many dribbles before scoring.
Despite his knack for delivering breathtaking passes, Jokic emphasized the importance of making the right play rather than focusing on style. When asked about his favorite career pass, he couldn’t pinpoint a specific moment but instead highlighted the satisfaction that comes from making the right decision. "Making the right play feels good, whether or not it’s flashy," he said.
Reflecting on his accomplishments in a post-game interview, Jokic humorously mentioned that one day he might embellish these achievements while sitting on his porch, sipping beer with his children. Yet, there’s no need for embellishment regarding his status as arguably the greatest passing big man in basketball history. For context, Abdul-Jabbar played a total of 1,560 regular-season games and an additional 237 playoff games throughout his two-decade career, while Jokic, in just 11 seasons, has already competed in 771 regular-season games and 94 playoff games. He acknowledged that he only had a few hours to digest this latest achievement before shifting his focus to the Nuggets' upcoming game against the Houston Rockets. However, Coach Adelman believes this milestone deserves deeper reflection.
"Kareem played for 20 years and remained impactful until the end, especially for teams reaching the Finals. For Nikola to surpass him in this category speaks volumes," Adelman noted. "Let’s not take this achievement lightly; it’s truly a unique moment in basketball history. Remember this.
This raises an intriguing question: What does this record mean for the future of basketball? Is Jokic redefining the role of centers in the NBA, or is he simply an outlier? Share your thoughts below!
