Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic should be an NBA MVP candidate
The Denver Nuggets have the best record in the Western Conference and a big reason why is Nikola Jokic, who should be an NBA MVP candidate
Nikola Jokic may not be a name that the average, casual fan knows off the top of his or her head. Heck, if you see a picture of him or see him in his uniform you’d probably guess he’s just another big stiff.
However, through the first third of the 2018-19 NBA season, Jokic has been everything but that. In fact, he’s quietly been an NBA MVP candidate this year. But before you yell at me in the comments section, let me make my case.
For one, the Denver Nuggets are currently atop the Western Conference. Like, they have the best record in the conference. I don’t think you heard me right. The Denver Nuggets have the best record in the West, the same conference that has the Golden State Warriors.
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The Nuggets are 20-9 and just keep on winning despite key injuries to Will Barton, Gary Harris, Paul Millsap, Isaiah Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. Jokic has continued to lead this team in a way in which it hasn’t missed a beat.
Jokic is averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists so far this season on 48 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range. In December, he’s been even better, averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the field.
Taking it a step further, Jokic is also ranked third in Real Plus-Minus, 7th in Win Shares, and 9th in Player Efficiency Rating. Jokic is not just putting up empty, inefficiently numbers on a night-to-night basis, even the advanced statistics tell us that he’s been the different for the Nuggets – even with the injuries.
This is not to say that the Nuggets won’t eventually struggle at some point over the next few weeks, especially with all these injuries, it’s just a testament to the job that Jokic has done this season.
Jokic – and the Nuggets – are beginning to catch the attention of NBA fans all over. The fact that the Nuggets are still atop of the conference through roughly 30 games suggests that this is something more than a hot start. This suggests staying power.
Nikola Jokic is not single-handedly powering the Nuggets toward the promise land, but you can’t help but overlook the leadership role that he’s taken this season – whether if it’s vocal or by example.
In year’s past, this Denver team might’ve folded already. In the past, the Nuggets would’ve had the hot start and then flamed out. They’d probably be more than just a few games off their current pace if it was any other year. But this season is different.
And perhaps nothing suggests that more than their 4th ranked defense. For context, the Nuggets have had a bottom 10 defense in the league each of the last three seasons. An elite defense coupled with Nikola Jokic’s magic on the offensive end has this team on another level this season.
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Many are quick to crown the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder as the only real threats in the Western Conference to the Warriors, but perhaps we’re overlooking one really good Denver Nuggets squad. And their fearless leader, Nikola Jokic.