For a lot of, Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic is the perfect participant within the NBA, whether or not he is a favourite to win MVP this season or not. Nonetheless, a latest viral put up known as into query a key stat.
Jokic will get faux assists as a result of everybody will get faux 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 sport, suggesting that lots of them weren’t precise assists. In actuality, he might 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 by a number of video games all through the course of a season to search out these examples. Just lately for Jokić it’s been so unhealthy which you could simply take a look at the final 5 video games and it’s blatantly apparent.
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) March 29, 2026
Nonetheless, it is lengthy been identified that the NBA has an help downside. The issue is that assists are loosely outlined and might be inflated simply.
The NBA has an help downside and it isn’t going away
Jokic is not alone in having so-called faux 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 a surprisingly 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 house video games in comparison with away video games. Maybe consequently, he holds the title of the NBA’s all-time help chief, a file 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 house 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 would not appear prepared to resolve the assists downside
They’ll inflate help totals in the event that they so select. That may be carried out by awarding an help merely for one participant passing to a different regardless that they don’t have anything to do with their teammate truly scoring.
If participant A passes participant B the ball and participant B pump fakes, takes 4 or 5 dribbles, and hits a troublesome shot off the glass, is that an help? Should you selected no, you’d be appropriate.
Nonetheless, such performs usually are credited as an help regardless that the passer truly 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 appropriate it. What are they doing?
The easy answer can be for the league to rent native stat keepers. That method they’d don’t have any direct ties to particular person groups. If that had been to occur, we would see a lower in inflated help totals. That is what the NBA ought to need.
Subsequently, the NBA should intervene to forestall additional embarrassment, however whether or not that really occurs continues to be unsure.
