Tyrese Haliburton Makes Strong Nikola Jokic Statement

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton gave his props to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets

Nov 25, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

While Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the current frontrunner for NBA MVP, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic continues to make a case for himself. Jokic has won the MVP award in three of the last four years but is putting together the best season of his career.

Jokic had another historic night on Monday, dropping 18 points, 19 assists, and 9 rebounds in a win over the Indiana Pacers. His 19 assists is a career-high and the second-most assists in a game by a center in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain (21).

Most AST in a game by a Center:

21 — Wilt Chamberlain
19 — Nikola Jokic
19 — Wilt Chamberlain
18 — Nikola Jokic
18 — Nikola Jokic
17 — Nikola Jokic
17 — Nikola Jokic
17 — Nikola Jokic
17 — Wilt Chamberlain
16 — Nikola Jokic (11x) pic.twitter.com/e6RpAOxP6B

— StatMamba (@StatMamba) February 25, 2025

Following the game, Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton had strong praise for Jokic and the Nuggets, saying it is impossible to compare them to other teams.

"It's a very unique style of basketball," Haliburton said about the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic. "His vision is amazing. He's an amazing playmaker. He's the type of guy that if you mess up a defensive coverage, he's going to find it and expose it... What he's done in our league, what he continues to do, is second to none. He's unbelievable."

"The Nuggets kind of encompass that terrible narrative of people who don't really understand the NBA saying that we all play the same - Nobody plays like them," Haliburton said. "Nobody can play like them because of what he does."

Jokic is now averaging 29.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game this season with 57.5/44.5/82.1 shooting splits, and gets opposing stars to talk like this about him on a nightly basis. While Jokic might not bring in his fourth MVP award this season, his dominance is unbelievable.

Related Articles

Nikola Jokic Makes NBA History in Nuggets-Mavericks

Latest Update on Denver Nuggets Potentially Signing Ex-Lakers Player

Nikola Jokic's Brutally Honest Statement on Luka Doncic Trade to Lakers