For a lot of, Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic is the perfect participant within the NBA, whether or not he is a favourite to win MVP this season or not. Nevertheless, a latest viral put up known as into query a key stat.
Jokic will get pretend assists as a result of everybody will get pretend assists. They seem to be a poorly designed and subjective stat. If you wish to swipe at Jokic passing actually is not the world to do it. https://t.co/BKJ7kynRzI
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) March 29, 2026
Many questioned the validity of Jokic’s latest 19-assist recreation, suggesting that a lot of them weren’t precise assists. In actuality, he could have solely had 14 or 15 assists, which continues to be spectacular, particularly for a middle.
The help counting this season has been unhealthy, however you’re going via a number of video games all through the course of a season to search out these examples. Lately for Jokić it’s been so unhealthy that you may simply take a look at the final 5 video games and it’s blatantly apparent.
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) March 29, 2026
Nevertheless, it is lengthy been identified that the NBA has an help downside. The issue is that assists are loosely outlined and could be inflated simply.
The NBA has an help downside and it is not going away
Jokic is not alone in having so-called pretend stats. Many have questioned the legitimacy of Corridor of Fame level guard John Stockton’s help numbers.
He’s arguably the perfect passer in NBA historical past and missed an incredibly low variety of video games in his 19-season profession. Thus, it is smart that he’d rack up a ridiculous variety of assists. That makes excellent sense.
Nonetheless, there was scrutiny surrounding the dramatic distinction in his help totals in residence video games in comparison with away video games. Maybe consequently, he holds the title of the NBA’s all-time help chief, a report which will stay unbroken.
A part of the NBA’s help downside is that stat keepers are employed by particular person groups, not the league. Which means throughout residence video games, these stat keepers have a say in how numbers are recorded. Am I the one one which sees an issue with that?
The NBA does not appear keen to resolve the assists downside
They’ll inflate help totals in the event that they so select. That may be achieved by awarding an help merely for one participant passing to a different although they don’t have anything to do with their teammate really scoring.
If participant A passes participant B the ball and participant B pump fakes, takes 4 or 5 dribbles, and hits a tricky shot off the glass, is that an help? If you happen to selected no, you’d be right.
Nevertheless, such performs usually are credited as an help although the passer really did not create a shot for his teammate. Because of this, I’d argue assists are probably the most inflated stat in sports activities, but the NBA appears unwilling to right it. What are they doing?
The easy answer can be for the league to rent native stat keepers. That method they’d haven’t any direct ties to particular person groups. If that have been to occur, we would see a lower in inflated help totals. That is what the NBA ought to need.
Due to this fact, the NBA should intervene to stop additional embarrassment, however whether or not that truly occurs continues to be unsure.
