I’ve by no means seen a residing blueprint for such. Assist me if I’m fallacious, however I don’t suppose there has ever been a residing blueprint for a participant just like the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic. An unparalleled mixture of top, weight, power, nimble ft, ridiculous imaginative and prescient, and elite ability are the truth of what Jokic is.
Approaching 31 years of age on (his birthday is February 19), Jokic is placing up the very best numbers of his 11 yr NBA profession thus far in 2025-26.
Thoughts-Boggling Numbers
The 6-11, 284-pound level heart is averaging 29.6 factors, 12.2 rebounds, 11 assists thus far this season. Jokic’s numbers are out of this world and one thing we have solely seen within the NBA maybe as soon as earlier than with Wilt Chamberlain.
Joker’s rebounding and help averages lead the league. His factors per sport are fifth within the NBA and primary for giant males. Then add in his 43.5 p.c taking pictures from behind the 3-point line. So we’re speaking a few world class athlete who’s upping his averages in his decrease 30s.
Not too long ago, Jokic suffered a hyperextended knee damage that may maintain him out for an assumed 4 weeks. Maybe that may compromise his possibilities of profitable the MVP, however it’s not essentially going to have an effect on his statistical averages nor his standing within the sport. Successful MVP would not matter; he is arguably And for those who ask me, I typically anticipate a participant to learn from a 4 week relaxation throughout an extended and grueling NBA season.
Joker’s Distinctive Sport
Now, what’s it that I like about Jokic aside from his thoughts bending stats? For starter he’s a top quality teammate, instructor, instance and anchor. Not simply an anchor, however a playmaking anchor. He doesn’t take his stardom critically and is the last word chief/mentor for the Denver Nuggets.
In the case of analyzing his sport, Jokic just isn’t your customary vertical athlete. He controls horizontal house, The over emphasis of the vertical in basketball is tantalizing and mesmerizing. Nevertheless, give me the participant who can management the horizontal house simply past his supposed attain and create assists alongside the identical airplane. These varieties of gamers dominate and Jokic simply tops that choose group.
NIKOLA JOKIĆ WITH VIDEO GAME STATS ON CHRISTMAS DAY 🤯
🃏 56 PTS🃏 16 REB🃏 15 AST🃏 2 BLK🃏 4 3PM
THE FIRST 55/15/15 GAME IN NBA HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/8LPXlFWO6V
— NBA (@NBA) December 26, 2025
Joker has an total really feel for the sport that’s elegant. He has an Einstein degree of understanding of house and time. He additionally has a simplistic understanding of motion and numbers. Jokic can get his personal virtually on a whim, however what makes him particular is how he unifies a crew. When you may get a bucket, you get a bucket. While you draw a crowd of three, you discover the open man.
The expert and environment friendly nature of his sport allows and empowers his teammates. Legendary faculty coach Rick Majerus at all times emphasised composure with the basketball. He would say publish males must decelerate, slowdown, slowdown! Jokic is the supreme instance of the kind of participant Majerus envisioned. He’s robust with the basketball, on stability with the basketball, intentional with the basketball and expert with the basketball.
Merely put, Jokic slows the sport down with a view to pace up the alternatives for his teammates. Only a few gamers have the aptitude of doing such. Pace is usually the calling card. Pace is nice. Pace kills. Pace with out correct precision and management additionally kills, nevertheless it kills the self. Jokic doesn’t kill the self. He provides life to his crew by offering a fulcrum of motion and stability.
Get the ball to Jokic and alter positioning and get your palms prepared. He jogs my memory of Larry Hen. When the ball was in Hen’s hand, the sport slowed down. When the sport slows down for a world class passer, the sport accelerates for an clever teammate.
Hey, isn’t a bucket way more simpler to complete when your pace finds controllable intention? Jokic makes the sport look straightforward, maybe greater than any participant who has ever laced’ em up.
The lead nationwide recruiting scout for Rivals.com and 247sports.com for a 20-year span, Jerry Meyer grew up in basketball because the son of legendary coach Don Meyer. Jerry set the all-time profession help document for faculty basketball (1,314) and was a two-time Mr. Basketball in Tennessee. He coached on the professional and highschool degree, was beforehand an assistant at Vanderbilt and co-authored “Basketball Expertise and Drills”.
