“We need to stop saying it’s easy!” »

U very easy win for the Nuggets against the Pelicans, Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes. It was his 17th career triple-double in less than 30 minutes, and no one has done better. It’s also his fourth straight triple-double to start the season, and triple MVP thus equaling the NBA record jointly held by Oscar Robertson (1961) and Russell Westbrook (2020).

They are also the only two players still ahead of Nikola Jokic on the career triple-double list: The three-time MVP now has 168, compared to 181 for Oscar Robertson and 203 for Russell Westbrook. The journalist told him at the press conference that everything seemed easy with him, especially at the start of the season.

Rotations in the European style

“It’s not easy!” We have to stop saying that! » he laughs. “I run like the others, I jump like the others. Sometimes the game just comes to me, and I have a good night. Like today: it was a good evening, good. I hope it will continue to be like that.”

What Nikola Jokić remembers above all is that the Nuggets are more consistent in the game than last season. There are no gaps, no passages where the team loses its common thread. David Adelman runs his rotation differently, and the Serb likes it.

“I trust DA (David Adelman), I trust the players. I think it’s good to play with a guy who is successful, or try new combinations, new players, new rotations, different fives on the field.” he confides in managing his play time. “It’s a bit like the European style: whoever’s hot, plays. For example, against Minnesota, other players finished the game, and I think that’s how it should be.”

Absolute Friday night record?

In general, Nikola Jokic appreciates the team’s depth. “It’s important to have different players with different energies. Sometimes just one guy can change the whole rhythm and energy of a team, for better or for worse.” he emphasizes. “I like what we do: we try new things. Sometimes a player like Spans (Peyton Watson) plays only one or two minutes, just to bring energy. Julian (Strother) stayed fit, even though he didn’t play much at first. So I like this approach where everyone tries, everyone stays involved. »

To return to this tied triple-double record, no player has started a season with five consecutive triple-doubles, and Nikola Jokic will be the first to do so on Friday night in the first night of the NBA Cup against the Blazers.