Nikola Jokic recently became the first player to be leading the entire NBA in total points, rebounds and assists in December or later. No, that’s not a joke. Tyrese Haliburton‘s impressive In-Season Tournament performance vaulted him over Jokic for total assists temporarily. To nobody’s surprise, the two-time league MVP and reigning finals MVP is dominating again this season. What may come as a surprise is that he’s still improving and is reaching an even higher peak. After winning back-to-back MVPs, people were still hesitant to give Jokic his credit because of his lack of playoff success. That argument was one that made him lose out on becoming the first player since Larry Bird to win three consecutive MVP awards.
Jokic and the Nuggets have since cruised to their first ever championship, going 16-4 during their playoff run last season. They became an unstoppable juggernaut, mostly thanks to playing through the two-man game of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. During their run, Jokic also became the first player in NBA history to lead the entire postseason in scoring, rebounding and assists.
To start the 2023-24 NBA season, Jokic and Murray got the Nuggets out to a hot start. After winning six of their first seven, Murray injured his hamstring. He has played one game since his injury, leaving Jokic to lead the Nuggets through one of the hardest schedules so far. The Nuggets have played in 5 back-to-backs, which leads the NBA. They have a 4-1 record in those games, much in thanks to the play of Jokic.
Unprecedented Statistics
Nikola Jokic is averaging a staggering 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists a game this year. As of today, he is currently the favorite to win his third MVP. This season, Jokic is setting career highs in player efficiency rating (PER), win shares/48 and box plus-minus (BPM). His current PER (34.1) and BPM (15.6) are both the highest in a single season in NBA history, neither of which are particularly close to the previous record. In the 20 games Jokic has played so far this season, he has only been a minus in four of the games, despite the Nuggets losing seven.
Jokic is an insane passer and has proven to be the best passing big of all time. He has started the year with eight triple-doubles, while tying . This puts him on pace for 32 triple doubles, which would set a new mark for a career high. Jokic also has four Sombor-doubles, a term coined to represent a double-double that missed a triple double by one assist/rebound.
Unmatched Basketball Prowess
Watching Jokic play reveals a whole different level of basketball. It’s almost as if he’s toying with the other team at times. Jokic’s complete control of the offensive side of the floor is unmatched by another NBA player past or present. If they send a double team, he will always find the open guy. If you single guard him in the post, he’s just going to back them down until he forces a double or gets a good look at a shot. His floater is one of the deadliest shots in basketball. He’s an unstoppable force on offense.
Nikola Jokic continues to prove he’s a player blessed by the basketball gods. Proven by the eye test and the statistics, this season has been Jokic’s best individual season. He has improved his decision making, his touch is among the best in league history and despite not being a dominant rim-protector, he’s always in the correct spot defensively. Jokic is only 29 and it’s clear his dominance will continue. The scary part is he might not even be at his peak yet.
