Check out the best plays from Nikola Jokić’s historic Christmas Day performance vs. Minnesota.
How exactly do we process 56-16-15? Is there a rational explanation for the performance, the historical connotation attached to it, the 7-foot machine that produced those Powerball lottery numbers?
Well, consider that it came at the expense of a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. And it happened on Christmas Day, the most visible spot on the regular season schedule. And it was against a team that went to the Western Conference Finals two years straight. And it was done while missing three very crucial starters in the lineup.
Yes, all that.
But the game that contained the points, rebounds and assists, as astounding as they were, wasn’t all that surprising. There’s only one player capable of mustering that. This is what Nikola Jokić does, and has been doing for years. This is why he’s crashing top-10 all-time lists and widely considered the greatest player still active in the NBA.
And obviously, this is why he’s the leader on the Kia Race to the MVP.
NIKOLA JOKIĆ WITH VIDEO GAME STATS ON CHRISTMAS DAY 🤯
🃏 56 PTS
🃏 16 REB
🃏 15 AST
🃏 2 BLK
🃏 4 3PM
THE FIRST 55/15/15 GAME IN NBA HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/8LPXlFWO6V
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2025
The voting for the award won’t take place for another four months, and plenty can happen between now and then. This is the NBA. The road ahead often takes wicked turns and twists of fate.
But let’s safely say, for now, that there’s Jokić … followed by a gap … and then there’s everyone else on the MVP Ladder.
That effort against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves was inspiring and dominant; also, can’t forget the 15-21 field goal accuracy and 22-23 from the free throw line and two blocks and the durable 43 minutes played in the overtime win. No other player ever dropped 55-plus and 15-plus (twice) in one game.
Nuggets forward Peyton Watson said: “I’m tired of not being surprised. This surprised me … We can’t continue to dismiss what this guy does on a night-to-night basis. It’s unbelievable.”
It’s Jokić.
Greatness is often taken for granted if only because it becomes routine, and that’s perhaps the ultimate compliment to Jokić. It’s routine for him. Anyone else does it, it’s cause for a Gatorade splash, a celebration, etc., etc., and endless over-the-top soundbites.
Jokić? Just another night for him.
And poor Gobert; Jokić dropped 61 points on him a year ago in yet another triple-double masterpiece.
But Jokić does that against a lot of defenders, no matter their level. It’s nothing personal. It’s just what a legendary player does, compiling triple-doubles. He doesn’t actually look to score; it’s not his preferred method of destruction. He’d rather pass and rebound. But the Nuggets are shorthanded and Jokić has little choice but to look for his shot constantly.
What does this mean?
The West was on alert well before that Christmas performance, but even more now. Because through all the fuss generated by the Oklahoma City Thunder over the first two months, and the Los Angeles Lakers with Luka Dončić and the development of Austin Reaves, and lately by the ahead-of-schedule San Antonio Spurs, none of those teams are bringing Jokić.
Those contenders must eventually figure him out and devise a way to stop him at some point, especially in the postseason. Minnesota couldn’t on Thursday.
And unless there’s a serious shakeup between now and April, the MVP award is tilting in favor of the Serbian superstar.
Setting the stage this week: Since this is the holiday period, nothing beats having the chance to go home — if only while wearing the opposing uniform. When this happens, those players usually produce solid, if not epic, results. On Wednesday, a pair of MVP contenders will have that chance. Stephen Curry will make his annual trip to Charlotte on Wednesday, and Anthony Edwards, born and raised in Atlanta, travels there for Jalen Johnson and the Hawks.
The stat to know: He’s a notoriously slow starter — one reason why he hasn’t made an All-Star team — but not this year for Jamal Murray. The Nuggets guard went into Christmas Day with eight games of 30-plus points, including a 50- and 40-piece, and is shooting 45% from deep, and he extended the streak with 35 points in Denver’s win over Minnesota.
What they are saying: “No, I don’t think about that. At least from a basketball standpoint, there’s no comparison between us.” — Victor Wembanyama, when asked if he saw a rivalry between him and OKC’s Chet Holmgren.
1. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Last week’s ranking: No. 1 ↔️
Season stats: 28.9 points, 12 rebounds, 10.9 assists.
His case: Let the record reflect that, despite coming up short, Jokić made the right basketball play the other night when he found a wide-open Peyton Watson in the corner for a game-winning shot attempt, rather than force a short jumper in the paint surrounded by three Dallas defenders.
The record also shows the Nuggets are shorthanded right now; no Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson or Christian Braun, three crucial starters. Therefore, it’ll be more heavy lifting for Jokić, and he’s certainly capable of making his remaining teammates better, as evidenced by his dominance on Christmas Day.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week’s ranking: No. 2 ↔️
Season stats: 32.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists.
His case: The good news is Shai is still enjoying a high-level season, firmly among the league’s top scorers and doing it efficiently overall once again, much like last season.
That said, with OKC suddenly looking mortal — at least whenever it’s Thunder vs. Spurs — Shai no longer has the team dominance on his side, as OKC’s cushion in the West is suddenly thin, just 2 1/2 up on the Spurs, who have beaten him three times. Shai shot 7-19 on Christmas against the Spurs, his least impressive outing of the season.
3. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Last week’s ranking: No. 3 ↔️
Season stats: 34 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists.
His case: Luka remains the NBA scoring leader despite an uneven last few weeks when he missed a game to injury, then returned on Christmas, only to lose big to the Rockets.
Overall, his season remains solid; Luka is nearly averaging a triple-double and doing it efficiently. He has an interesting upcoming game against Cade Cunningham and the East-leading Detroit Pistons, a solid measuring stick for him.
4. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Last week’s ranking: No. 4 ↔️
Season stats: 29.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists.
His case: He scored 20 of his 34 points in the second half to fortify the Knicks’ Christmas Day comeback from 17 points down against Cleveland. Once again, Brunson demonstrated how reliable he is in these situations, when the Knicks need a clever and clutch player who rarely makes mistakes or is the reason for his team coming up short.
And the game before, he had 47 points and no turnovers against Miami. Over the last month, only a handful of players have impacted games as good or better than Brunson, who keeps proving he belongs among the top-five on the ladder.
5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Last week’s ranking: No. 5 ↔️
Season stats: 26.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.4 assists.
His case: The Pistons have won seven of eight, the lone loss coming in overtime, and Cunningham was his usual steady self during that stretch.
The only issue is his turnovers have increased; he had nine against the Kings and five the game before against the Blazers. Still, the Pistons continue to lead the East despite the threat of the NBA Cup-winning Knicks and Brunson. Cunningham’s status as a top-five ladder player seems safe as long as the Pistons maintain the top spot.
The next 5:
6. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
7. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
9. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
10. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
And five more (listed alphabetically): Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at [email protected]m, find his archive here and follow him on X.
