Nikola Jokic became the first player in NBA history since LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists in three consecutive seasons. He also became the first center to average 6 plus assists per game for three straight years. Jokic has introduced the NBA to the new era of the center.
Before, the center position was the focus of the NBA because of the need for easy baskets. With how the NBA is today, the center has to become a playmaker. Jokic has fully embraced this and is now one of the greatest players of all-time at just 25. The Nuggets want to upset teams and go to the Finals for the first time since 1975-76 and Jokic will be a big part of that.
In order to upset those teams, the Nuggets will be in big and highly competitive games. Here’s what Jokic said about playing in the clutch:
“Probably because there is no pressure,” Jokic said when asked about his late-game brilliance. “It’s 3,2,1, and you need to shoot it. I cannot think about it.”
The Nuggets will face the Utah Jazz in the first postseason matchup. It will be a big-time matchup between Jokic and Rudy Gobert. Jokic may not be able to score so that’s where his playmaking will come into play to open things up for him in terms of offense.
Nikola Jokic has slimmed down to help in his quest to be the best playmaking big man in NBA history. The Nuggets model of consistency has to lead the team by continuing his dominance during the postseason.
