Nikola Jokic is simply not human.
The NBA’s reigning MVP, Nikola Jokić, once again showcased his brilliance on Friday night, delivering an outstanding performance with 27 points and 14 rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter. His efforts helped the Denver Nuggets secure a dominant 129-93 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Jokić started the game aggressively, grabbing 11 rebounds in the first quarter alone, nearly matching his season average of 12.8. However, it was his incredible shot at the end of the first half that truly captured everyone’s attention.
With just seconds remaining before halftime, “The Joker” launched a one-handed, one-footed 62-foot shot from beyond half-court. The ball sailed through the air and crashed through the hoop, a moment that left fans and analysts in awe. Remarkably, he made the effort look effortless, even adding a Euro step before releasing the shot.
Incredibly, this wasn’t even Jokić’s first miraculous long-range heave of the season. On January 23, he sank a near full-court shot against the Sacramento Kings, once again using a one-handed flip. With this latest buzzer-beater, Jokić has now etched his name into the NBA record books alongside Steph Curry.
According to CBS Sports, Jokić and Curry are the only two players in NBA history to make two shots from at least 60 feet in the same season. Jokić stands out as one of the few players who consistently attempts these long-range heaves, disregarding shooting percentages in favor of taking the chance. So far this season, he has attempted a league-high 20 such shots—nearly double the attempts of the next closest player, Mikal Bridges, who has taken 11.
Beyond his long-range heroics, Jokić also made history in another significant way. He became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 16,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists, accomplishing the feat in just 739 games. This broke the previous record set by Larry Bird, who needed 799 games to reach the same milestone.
If he continues playing at this level, Jokić could very well be on track to win his fourth MVP award. His impact is also crucial in the Nuggets’ push for playoff positioning. With Friday night’s win, Denver strengthened its hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, staying ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies by two games.
The Nuggets displayed excellent team basketball against the Jazz, with 11 players scoring and their bench outscoring Utah’s 52-43. After the blowout victory, head coach Michael Malone praised the unselfish nature of his team.
“We don’t have selfish guys,” Malone said. “We don’t have ‘me’ guys. We have ‘we’ guys.”
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