How far can Nikola Jokic carry an injured Denver Nuggets team?
Nikola Jokic is going to end up being one of the best centers in NBA history. Some big men are stiff and have one-dimensional games. Not Jokic. He possesses all the abilities you want in a star basketball player, and he just happens to be seven-feet tall.
The Nuggets are most likely to be without Jamal Murry and Michael Porter Jr. for the playoffs this season. I don’t think the Nuggets’ front office and coaches want to rush out a player if he’s not ready. A window for a championship is still very much a thing for the Nuggets. They have a lot of young talent for years to come.
This season, Jokic averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Just short of averaging a triple-double, something I expect to see him do in the coming years.
Jokic must feel a lot of pressure when he doesn’t have his full supporting cast to help him. He won league MVP last year and is making a case to do it again. He will have to be the glue that holds that team together if they want to escape past Golden State.