Nikola Jokic had a chance at history against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, but he fell one assist shy.

After starting the first four games with a triple-double, Jokic had 21 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists against the Blazers. Had he gotten the extra assist, the Nuggets' big man would have broken the record for most consecutive triple-doubles to start the season.

As it stands, Jokic is tied with Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson with four consecutive triple-doubles to start a season.

Westbrook had four straight to start the 2020-21 season with the Washington Wizards. In his fifth game, he finished with just five rebounds to go along with ten assists and 24 points. 

Robertson started the 1961-62 season with the Cincinnati Royals with four straight triple-doubles before falling shy in his fifth game with 37 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds. 

Jokic is third in all-time triple-doubles with 168, behind Westbrook, 203, and Robertson, 181. 

The three-time MVP is averaging a triple-double on the season with 20.4 points, 10.8 assists, and 14.4 rebounds. He averaged a triple-double last season and has fallen just shy of averaging a triple-double in the previous two seasons, recording nine assists per game in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Jokic recorded his first triple double in 2017 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Since 2016-17, he has increased his triple-double output each season, with the exception of 2022-23, where he had 29 triple-doubles, to 2023-24, where his total dropped to 25. He did not record a triple-double in his rookie season, but had six in his second season, which saw his minutes per game increase from 21 to 27. 

Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 29 triple-doubles per season. Westbrook, who was teammates with Jokic last season on the Nuggets, has the record for most triple-doubles in a season with 42 in his 2016-17 MVP season as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Jokic holds the record for the fastest triple-double, recording the feat on February 15, 2018, against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jokić recorded a triple-double just 14 minutes and 33 seconds into the game. He also holds the record for most points scored in a triple-double, with 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 1, 2025.

Jokic and the Nuggets look to bounce back after a loss to the Trail Blazers when they face Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings on Monday.