The Unstoppable Rise of Nikola Jokic: A Season for the Ages
Nikola Jokic's historic performances have become a regular occurrence, and it's time the basketball world takes notice. The Denver Nuggets superstar is putting together a season that is simply unparalleled, cementing his status as the best player in the NBA today.
Jokic's latest feat was a triple-double of 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists, leading the Nuggets to a thrilling 122-120 victory over the reigning Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks. This was Jokic's fourth consecutive triple-double and his sixth of the young NBA season, putting him atop the league in that metric.
But Jokic's dominance extends far beyond just triple-doubles. He is currently leading the league in rebounds (nearly 14 per game) and assists (nearly 12 per game), while also scoring nearly 30 points per game, good for fourth in the league. And he's doing all of this on obscene shooting splits of 56% from the field, 56% from the three-point line, and 84% from the free-throw line.
It's become increasingly difficult to compare players across eras, especially when considering the significant changes in the game's pace, rules, and defensive intensity over the years. However, one thing is clear: Nikola Jokic is far and away the best player we've seen in the post-2010 era, surpassing the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry.
Despite Jokic's historic performances, the media has been slow to recognize his dominance. Going into the game against the Mavericks, Jokic was only third on the NBA.com Kia MVP ladder, behind Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum. This is a clear indication of the media's bias against Jokic, as they seem determined to "halt or promote certain historical narratives."
It's undeniable that Jokic should have won the 2023 NBA MVP award, which was instead given to Joel Embiid. The media's apparent "rigging" and "blackballing" of Jokic's candidacy is a testament to their unwillingness to acknowledge his greatness.
Jokic's impact on the game extends far beyond the traditional box score. He currently leads the league by a "laughable margin" in every single key advanced metric, including VORP, BPM, PER, and Win Shares. This marks the fifth consecutive season that Jokic has led the league in these metrics, which were once used to "pleasure themselves" while drooling over LeBron James.
Furthermore, Jokic's on-off metrics are simply staggering. His on-off of +43.7 points per 100 possessions is pacing to shatter Kobe Bryant's record mark for this century of +19.2 in 2006. To put this in context, Anthony Davis is at +3.4, Jayson Tatum is at +6.10, Luka Doncic is at +9.4, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at +13.3 – all impressive numbers, but dwarfed by Jokic's historic impact.
If ever there should be a unanimous MVP season, it is this one. Jokic is averaging a 30-point per game triple-double on sky-high shooting splits, all while leading a Nuggets team that is 7-3 despite missing key players like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Fans and basketball enthusiasts alike should not miss a single second of Nikola Jokic's historic season. History is unfolding before our very eyes, and we are witnessing the rise of a true NBA legend.
Part 1/5:
The Unstoppable Rise of Nikola Jokic: A Season for the Ages
Nikola Jokic's historic performances have become a regular occurrence, and it's time the basketball world takes notice. The Denver Nuggets superstar is putting together a season that is simply unparalleled, cementing his status as the best player in the NBA today.
Jokic's latest feat was a triple-double of 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists, leading the Nuggets to a thrilling 122-120 victory over the reigning Western Conference champions, the Dallas Mavericks. This was Jokic's fourth consecutive triple-double and his sixth of the young NBA season, putting him atop the league in that metric.
Part 2/5:
But Jokic's dominance extends far beyond just triple-doubles. He is currently leading the league in rebounds (nearly 14 per game) and assists (nearly 12 per game), while also scoring nearly 30 points per game, good for fourth in the league. And he's doing all of this on obscene shooting splits of 56% from the field, 56% from the three-point line, and 84% from the free-throw line.
It's become increasingly difficult to compare players across eras, especially when considering the significant changes in the game's pace, rules, and defensive intensity over the years. However, one thing is clear: Nikola Jokic is far and away the best player we've seen in the post-2010 era, surpassing the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry.
The Media's Bias Against Jokic
Part 3/5:
Despite Jokic's historic performances, the media has been slow to recognize his dominance. Going into the game against the Mavericks, Jokic was only third on the NBA.com Kia MVP ladder, behind Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum. This is a clear indication of the media's bias against Jokic, as they seem determined to "halt or promote certain historical narratives."
It's undeniable that Jokic should have won the 2023 NBA MVP award, which was instead given to Joel Embiid. The media's apparent "rigging" and "blackballing" of Jokic's candidacy is a testament to their unwillingness to acknowledge his greatness.
Jokic's Dominance in Advanced Metrics
Part 4/5:
Jokic's impact on the game extends far beyond the traditional box score. He currently leads the league by a "laughable margin" in every single key advanced metric, including VORP, BPM, PER, and Win Shares. This marks the fifth consecutive season that Jokic has led the league in these metrics, which were once used to "pleasure themselves" while drooling over LeBron James.
Furthermore, Jokic's on-off metrics are simply staggering. His on-off of +43.7 points per 100 possessions is pacing to shatter Kobe Bryant's record mark for this century of +19.2 in 2006. To put this in context, Anthony Davis is at +3.4, Jayson Tatum is at +6.10, Luka Doncic is at +9.4, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at +13.3 – all impressive numbers, but dwarfed by Jokic's historic impact.
A Season for the Ages
Part 5/5:
If ever there should be a unanimous MVP season, it is this one. Jokic is averaging a 30-point per game triple-double on sky-high shooting splits, all while leading a Nuggets team that is 7-3 despite missing key players like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Fans and basketball enthusiasts alike should not miss a single second of Nikola Jokic's historic season. History is unfolding before our very eyes, and we are witnessing the rise of a true NBA legend.