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Nuggets' Jokic Becomes NBA Career Assists Leader Among Centers

12/19/2025

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Summary

Jokic Breaks Assists Record

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets became the NBA's career assists leader among centers by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after a 23-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound game against the Orlando Magic.
Jamal Murray scored 32 for the Nuggets, including 20 in the second quarter.
Nuggets improved to 20-6 after overcoming a 14-point deficit with a 35-7 run.
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic posted a 26-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist triple-double.

History

Historical Context

In 2023, Nikola Jokic surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time assists leader among NBA centers, a milestone reflecting the evolving role of centers in basketball. Historically, only five centers had previously achieved over 10,000 assists, highlighting a shift towards versatile players who facilitate offense. This achievement may inspire future centers to develop similar playmaking skills, reshaping team dynamics in the league.

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Jokic Breaks Assists Record

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets became the NBA's career assists leader among centers by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after a 23-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound game against the Orlando Magic.
Jamal Murray scored 32 for the Nuggets, including 20 in the second quarter.
Nuggets improved to 20-6 after overcoming a 14-point deficit with a 35-7 run.
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic posted a 26-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist triple-double.

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