Former NBA coach George Karl made a bold statement comparing the Denver Nuggets’ reliance on Nikola Jokic to the Chicago Bulls’ dependence on Michael Jordan.
Karl suggested that the Nuggets are even more reliant on Jokic over the past five years than the Bulls ever were on Jordan.
In a tweet, Karl highlighted Jokic’s role as the team’s primary rebounder, passer, playmaker, and leader. He emphasized the importance of the Serbian center in every game, pointing out that Jokic impacts nearly every aspect of Denver’s play on the court.
Jokic’s usage percentage of 29.3% currently ranks 28th in the NBA. For context, LaMelo Ball leads the league with a 38.5% usage rate, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (36%), Zion Williamson (33.5%), and Luka Doncic (32.7%).
For comparison, Michael Jordan’s career usage percentage was 33.3%, slightly higher than Jokic’s but still a testament to Jokic’s immense role with the Nuggets.
Usage percentage is a statistic that measures the percentage of a team’s possessions used by a player while they are on the court. It calculates how often a player is involved in offensive plays, including scoring, assists, or turning the ball over. A higher usage rate indicates a player is more involved in the team’s offensive production.
Jokic’s role with the Nuggets has been nothing short of monumental. Averaging 30.1 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game this season, he has maintained an all-around dominance that few players can match. His ability to contribute in so many areas makes him an invaluable player for Denver.
