Nikola Jokic turns 30 and he's having one of his best seasons, averaging a triple-double

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets gathered around Nikola Jokic near the 3-point line Wednesday and belted out a rather off-key version of “ happy birthday ” in honor of him turning 30.

Usually so poised on the court, the three-time NBA MVP seemed almost bashful.

“I don’t like my birthday,” Jokic explained. “Getting older.”

And better?

“Like wine,” he cracked.

In a lot of ways, Jokic remains very much a kid at heart, right down to his new Peppa Pig-themed sneakers. But his game has certainly matured to the point where he keeps setting the bar higher and higher for himself and just might be in the midst of his finest season of them all. He's averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.2 assists.

In addition, he's posted a league-leading 25 triple-doubles, which is just four shy of tying the franchise record he set in 2022-23.

His coach, Michael Malone, was stumped by just what might be the ceiling for his big man?

“Geez, I don’t know. He keeps on pushing the envelope,” said Malone, whose team will host Charlotte on Thursday night. “When you’re dealing with greatness, you never want to put a ceiling on that. We want to give him room to grow and and watch that, because it’s really fun to be a part of that process.”

Jokic began suiting up for the Nuggets as a 20-year-old kid who needed to improve his fitness and hone his footwork. Over the past decade, he's blossomed into one of the league's most hard-to-contain players and led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.

He’s married now with two young kids. He has a bronze medal he earned with Serbia last summer at the Paris Olympics. His sponsor, 361 Degrees, is getting ready to launch his signature shoe, which is inspired by Peppa Pig, the character in the long-running children’s series. (“They made it. I like it. They're going to be cool,” Jokic said.)

This season, he's showing off the latest wrinkle to his game — long-range shooting. He's hitting a career-best 45% from beyond the 3-point line.

“He is playing the best basketball of his life,” Malone said. "At his heart, he’s still the same person. He’s still Nikola Jokic from Sombor, Serbia. He’s never forgotten where he’s come from, or who’s helped him get here.”

Given his style of play, Malone believes Jokic could last in the league at an elite level for a while.

“The way (Jokic) dominates the game is with intelligence and skill, not athleticism,” Malone said. “He’s not driving down the lane and dunking on people every night. So I think that bodes well for his longevity."

That is, if the desire remains strong. He said that sticking around long enough so his kids can see him play is, “not going to be a factor for me."

Jokic returned to town after competing for Chuck’s Global Stars in the All-Star Game last weekend. He had two points in 10 minutes as his squad lost to Shaq’s OGs in the final.

It wasn't exactly his idea of rest and relaxation.

“Part of the business, part of the job,” Jokic said of his trip to San Francisco for the weekend festivities. "I would rather be somewhere else ... it’s a blessing and a curse.”

Now, it’s back to work for the Nuggets, who have won eight in a row and are currently the third seed in the Western Conference. They're returning to health, too, with Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring), Russell Westbrook (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf) all going through practice Wednesday. The only player missing was Peyton Watson (knee).

They have 27 games remaining to tinker with lineups and find the right combinations for a playoff push.

“People say, ‘Oh, that’s a tough decision,’” Malone said. “I look at it the opposite way. I’m really fortunate to have a tough decision to make where you have quality players that have really impacted winning. It’s never about one player. It’s about what’s best for our team.”

That’s the attitude of Jokic, too.

“He’s our heartbeat,” said Julian Strawther, who took part in the Rising Stars event over the weekend. “It’s not always being a vocal leader but leading by example with the things he does and how hard he works. Having him on our side, it makes us feel a lot better.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, left, collects a loose ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) gets tangled up with Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton, center, is fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, while driving to the basket past center Nikola Jokic in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, fields a pass as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, shakes hands with New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is introduced during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African soldiers deployed to high-crime areas have dismantled illegal gold mining operations in a community near Johannesburg, forcing some illegal miners to flee and abandon their equipment.

Police and the army recovered various tools used by illegal miners, including generators and drill machines — equipment documented by an Associated Press photographer on Thursday.

Makeshift trenches with food supplies and utensils belonging to the miners were also dismantled, with clothing items left behind after the miners fled the site in Randfontein, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the west of Johannesburg.

The operations were part of a rare move by the government to deploy soldiers in some of the country's most crime-ridden areas, including in the Western Cape province that includes the city of Cape Town and the economic hub province of Gauteng.

With dozens of abandoned mine shafts lining the outskirts of Johannesburg, illegal mining is rife in the area as heavily armed crime syndicates and informal miners known as “zama zamas” enter the shafts in search of leftover deposits of gold or other precious minerals.

It is illegal to mine without a government license, and in some places, the conditions are dangerous.

Other provinces with abandoned shafts, like the North West and Mpumalanga, have also experienced high levels of illegal mining, sometimes with tragic consequences.

Authorities say there are an estimated 30,000 illegal miners in South Africa, operating in some of its 6,000 abandoned mine shafts.

The government has noted an increase in illegal mining, which it estimates is worth more than $4 billion a year just in gold lost to criminal syndicates.

The trade is believed to be predominantly controlled by migrants from neighboring Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, stoking anger among South African communities against both the criminal bosses and foreigners living in the local community.

Responding to questions from lawmakers on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the deployment of the troops would take place alongside other measures, such as strengthening anti-gang units and illegal mining task teams.

“The police will also be working with the National Prosecuting Authority on multi-disciplinary task teams to target the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks,” Ramaphosa said.

South African National Defense Force soldiers recover a generator left behind by illegal miners, during a patrol in Randfontein, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A South African National Defense Force soldier patrols in a dense bush where illegal miners are operating, in Randfontein, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African National Defense Force soldiers retrieve clothing and food stock left by illegal miners, in Randfontein, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African National Defense Force soldiers and police officers cross a water stream used by illegal miners, during a patrol in Randfontein, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African National Defense Force soldiers and police officers load recovered generators and machinery left behind by illegal miners, during a patrol in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)