In a shorthanded 126-115 home win over the Orlando Magic, Nikola Jokic delivered another commanding triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists to push Denver past Orlando at Ball Arena.

That 13th assist moved him beyond Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time assists list for centers, giving Jokic 5,663 career dimes and counting from the pivot spot. Abdul-Jabbar had owned the mark for decades with 5,660 assists in 1,560 games, a testament to both his longevity and playmaking touch from the post.

Jokic needed just 771 games to erase that standard, underscoring how often the Nuggets’ offense now flows entirely through his hands on every trip. Denver entered the night without key rotation defenders Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson, yet still controlled the game once Jokic settled into his familiar role as the offensive fulcrum.

A passing center in his own tier

This record does more than decorate Jokic’s resume. It formalizes what coaches and peers have long suggested. Jokic is operating as the most prolific and creative passing big man the sport has seen. He is the only center in league history to reach more than 3,000 career assists within 800 games, a threshold no other player at his position has even approached.

The way Jokic manipulates defenses has redefined what a center can be. He initiates pick-and-roll actions, threads backdoor passes from the high post, and fires cross-court lasers that guards traditionally own, all while maintaining elite scoring efficiency. This season, he is averaging 29.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.9 assists on 61.2 percent shooting from the field, 42.6 percent from deep, and 84.0 percent at the line, production that places him on course for a fourth MVP and a sixth straight top-two finish in voting.

Legacy beyond the box score

For Jokic, the milestone arrived with characteristic understatement. He has already suggested that records will matter more when he is retired, sitting on a porch and embellishing stories for his children. Yet each passing season makes it harder to downplay what is unfolding in real time. The Serbian star has gone from second-round curiosity to three-time MVP and the offensive engine of a perennial contender, all while bending the geometry of the game from the five spot.

Surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s assist record does not close his case. Instead, it opens a new chapter in the conversation about where Jokic ultimately ranks among the greatest centers ever to play, a discussion that now must account for a playmaker whose vision rivals that of the best guards in league history.