On Friday, in the United States’ tight victory over Serbia in the Olympics there were three winners.
1.The United States.
2. Nikola Jokic.
3. The Denver Nuggets.
The last two can be combined.
There is a constant undercurrent of angst when the Nuggets don’t make a big splash in free agency. Skeptics, rightly or wrongly, wonder aloud if bringing back the same team is an actual plan that keeps the Nuggets on their ever-improving track.
In one scene-stealing, nearly game-stealing performance for Serbia, Jokic not only eased those fears but at the same time created excitement of what the possibilities can be. Last season, Jokic was named to the NBA’s all-rookie team. But Friday was his national, and international, coming-out party.
Do you know how many NBA fans didn’t know who Nikola Jokic was before tonight even though he was 3rd in Rookie of Year voting? True.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla)
Denver Nugget Nikola Jokic has been the best player in this game.
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA)
The Nuggets center poured in 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, which against a United States team that desperately wanted to play suffocating defense – and has the talent to do it – was impressive. But how he did it was eye-opening.
There are things we already know about Jokic’s game – he has got great footwork and touch using both hands in the paint. He’s versatile enough to stretch all the way to make shots at the 3-point line. Those parts of his skill-set are not new. And he put them on display yet again against the Yanks.
Here’s what was new: Power in the post and explosiveness to the rim.
Dunking isn’t something Jokic did a whole lot during his rookie season with the Nuggets. In fact, he made just 11 of them all season long out of 600 field-goal attempts (1.8 percent). In one night, he attacked the rim for three dunks in his 15 field-goal attempts (20 percent). The rim runs out of pick-and-roll sets will be of most interest to the Nuggets, who figure to be a heavy screen/roll team again in the upcoming season. He drove to the rim hard, and, also benefitted by solid Serbian point guard play, made finishing at the rim look easy.
In the post, Jokic displayed strength he did not have last season. His post-up and score over Draymond Green, the NBA’s most versatile defender, is the paint basket that should be remembered most. Jokic also took a smaller Jimmy Butler right to the rack for a layup after a post-up on the left block in the game as well.
His ability to be a matchup nightmare was on full display. He took smaller players down low. He fought in the paint against the like of DeMarcus Cousins, and didn’t look overpowered. He rolled to the rim and finished when guarded by DeAndre Jordan, and he hit 3-point shots when Cousins and Jordan were checking him as well.
And the world took notice.
Literally.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone and team brass have argued that a roster staying mostly the same going into next season would be just fine. They leaned on the reason that a bevy of young players, including Jokic, have the ability to grow into great ones. This was a sneak preview of that.
And the organization has to be all smiles.
