PARIS (France) - Nikola Jokic finally did it.
After twice flirting with recording a triple-double, the Serbian superstar registered the statistical feat for the first time while guiding his country to the bronze medal.
Jokic completed the triple-double with his 10th rebound on a tip-in of his own miss at the 5:59-minute mark of the fourth quarter of the 93-83 victory over Germany. The 29-year-old collected the fifth triple-double in the Olympics since 1976, finishing the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to go with 1 steal and 1 block for an effiency of 36. All of that with 0 turnovers in 37 minutes.
Jokic joined Soviet Union's Sasha Belov, LeBron James of USA (the only player to have recorded a triple-double twice) and Luka Doncic of Slovenia as the only players to collect a triple-double.
Belov had 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against Canada in 1976.
James tallied 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists versus Australia in 2012 - also with 0 turnovers.
Doncic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 18 assists against France in 2021.
James collected 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against Serbia in 2024.
The three-time NBA MVP Jokic, who has collected 148 career triple-doubles for the Denver Nuggets, pulled out all the stops - as usual. He started the game like a house on fire with 6 assists in the first quarter alone. That had been the "problematic" stat of the triple-double for Jokic, who had 6 points after 10 minutes.
The second quarter was less productive with 4 free throws and zero assists for the Serbian superstar.
Jokic flashed his outstanding vision and passing skills with a behind-the-back dime to Filip Petrusev early in the second half. He then dished to Aleksa Avramovic for a three-pointer to start the Serbian guard's run of points.
Assist number nine was a pass to the cutting Ognjen Dobric with 3 minutes to go in the third quarter, which finished with Jokic at 12 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists - and Serbia up 72-63, meaning he would definitely be playing in the final period.
Jokic collected his 10th assist in typical Jokic fashion with a long pass forward off a rebound to a streaking Avramovic with 7:20 minutes to go.
Jokic finished off the triple-double by grabbing back-to-back offensive rebounds on two tip-in attempts with six minutes to go. Then it was all about getting Serbia the medal.
Olympics fans twice thought Jokic would get the triple-double in France. He tallied 14 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists in the group stage game against Puerto Rico - not playing the fourth quarter at all in a blowout of the Americas side.
Jokic once again came up just short against Australia in the Quarter-Finals with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists.
Against Germany though, the Serbian star finally satisfied the stat head fans with his first Olympics triple-double while also being to fully celebrate a bronze medal for Serbia.
FIBA