With all the buzz that's surrounded the meteoric rise of Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis, it's easy to forget the other Eastern European center taking the league by storm. Nikola Jokic isn't a household name yet, but that could soon change.
You may not have tuned in for many Denver Nuggets games since the departure of head coach George Karl, but as any Nuggets fan can tell you, Jokic has made Denver must-watch basketball. With uncanny court vision and silky smooth low post game, the Serbian center has silently dominated his opposition since the second half of last season.
Tuesday night Jokic exploded for a career-high 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets in a 112-104 victory. Though he’s established the ability to score the ball with an array of savvy post moves and spot-up jumpers, scoring eruptions like this haven’t exactly been his calling card. Safe to say, it was more than a bit of a surprise when the pass first center took it upon himself to shoulder the scoring load.
It’s not that nobody believed in The Joker’s ability to put up 40 points in a game. It just took us by surprise that he broke out of his role as an unselfish distributor to take over the game with killer instincts we never knew he had in the first place. I suppose we should’ve known by now he prefers to take things slow, so it only makes sense it took him so long to unveil a new side of his evergrowing game.
Much like everything else in his young career, the former 41st overall pick of the 2014 draft has steadily inched his way towards an extended range, an expanded role, and legitimate star status. Although four-time All-Star Paul Millsap joined Denver's roster this summer, it’s been Jokic who has emerged as the Nuggets best and brightest player on offense.
To get an idea of just how true that statement is, let's take a look at the numbers. Not only does the creative center currently lead the Nuggets in points and rebounds per game, he also leads them assists per game. And he’s only 22 years old.
After spending an extra year playing overseas to polish his game, Jokic came into the NBA viewed as little more than a role player. Despite flashing signs of brilliance and high basketball IQ in his rookie campaign, he was overweight, out of shape and oftentimes overmatched by his peers. However, through his commitment to becoming great, determination to improve and the Nuggets’ patience to see out his development, the foreign-born baller has methodically groomed himself into a jack-of-all-trades on the floor.
His defense remains shoddy at best, but after losing nearly 50 pounds since the beginning of his rookie year, Jokic is equipped with the improved mobility to become a serviceable defender. Although he’ll never be able to keep up with the speedier guards that make their living on the perimeter, if he ever learns to play the stunningly efficient Tim Duncan-esque post defense of the heavy-footed legend before him, god help the rest of the league.
Whatever the future holds for the affectionately nicknamed Big Honey, one thing is for sure. He will continue to wreak his leisurely havoc on the NBA this season one plodding step at a time.
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled though. You won’t miss his lumbering strides across the floor, but if you blink, you may just miss out on witnessing one of his patented no-look rapid-fire dimes.
Comentários