Nuggets center has more triple-doubles this season than any player in the NBA not named Russell Westbrook, James Harden or . His six games of at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists entering the weekend are the most ever in a season by a player born outside the United States. The 22-year-old also is the only player besides Westbrook and DeMarcus Cousins to average at least 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists this season, and he’s the youngest player in 22 years to produce such a line.
“The numbers that Nikola Jokic are putting up are just a joke,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, providing a worthy description of performances authored by a player called The Joker.
Those numbers — overall, he’s averaged 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists per game — are the cover letter for the résumé that can be submitted to make Jokic’s case for the NBA’s most improved player award.
Jokic was a second-round draft pick in 2015 who made the all-rookie team after a promising debut season in which he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and 2.4 assists. The spike in numbers alone puts Jokic in the conversation for the award, which includes names such as Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington’s Otto Porter and Boston’s Isaiah Thomas. But at the heart of Jokic’s candidacy is the fact that the center has fundamentally changed the identity of the Nuggets while plotting a course for where they are headed. If this award is meant to take into account how a player has altered his team, it’s hard to imagine Jokic not winning.
When Jokic is playing well, the Nuggets are one of the best offensive teams in basketball, cutting and moving around their swift passing big man to score points in droves. There is no doubt Jokic has plenty of room to grow. He has to improve his body to make him a stronger, more mobile and productive defender. And his improvement in that area could help the Nuggets jump forward defensively as a whole. I’m also of the belief that Jokic needs to become more assertive in clutch situations. As the team’s best player and top playmaker, the Nuggets would benefit from Jokic making decisions with the ball in his hands as games get tight.
But there’s no doubt the Nuggets know who they are behind Jokic, an identity they did not have when they ended last season.
“In the first 25 games of the year, that’s not who we were,” Malone said. “Once we made the lineup change on Dec. 15 (which moved Jokic into the starting center role), his numbers from that point on are second to none — for anybody. I think Nikola has firmly entrenched himself as one of the best players in the NBA. He’d be more than deserving to win the most improved player award.”
It is Jokic’s nature to deflect attention. He’s accommodating, friendly and welcoming, but his affinity for passing also applies to dishing praise to teammates instead of standing in the spotlight.
Still, Jokic admitted it would be nice to win award. It would speak to where he’s come from and where he and his team are going.
“It would be a nice accomplishment because I said to myself that I wanted to improve this season,” he said. “If I get it, I’m going to be happy.”
Spotlight on: Warrior’s forward Kevin Durant
What’s up: Durant was set to return to the Warriors on Saturday night against New Orleans after missing the past five weeks with a knee injury. The Warriors have already clinched the No.1 seed in the Western Conference postseason field for the third consecutive season heading into the final week of the regular season, but Durant’s return allows Golden State to work through any possible rust or on-court chemistry issues that could arise as they weave the former MVP back into the lineup.
Background: The Warriors won a league-record 73 regular season games last season then blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals against the Cavaliers. The desire to pursue another title led to the pursuit of Durant, the league’s biggest free-agency prize last summer. Durant, who was one game away from beating the Warriors and reaching the finals himself with Oklahoma City last season, stunned the basketball world on the Fourth of July when he announced that he would be leaving the Thunder to join Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to form perhaps the most super team in the era of superteams. After a relatively rocky start, Durant was finding his way before the injury, averaging 25.3 points while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.
Kosmider’s take: The Nuggets are nearing extinction in their bid to earn the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. If Denver was to produce a miracle and pass Portland in the season’s final days, it would come with the prize of facing a Golden State team that could very well steamroll its way to a second NBA championship in three seasons. The Warriors did just fine with Durant sidelined. Having Curry, a two-time MVP, has a way of cushioning the blow injuries create. Still, should Durant find his form alongside the rest of the Warriors — and it’s hard to imagine he won’t — I don’t see any team standing in the Warriors’ way of another title.
