Rocio Robles
Thursday. the Denver Nuggets’ 122-109 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies — the Western Conference’s second-ranked team — helped the Colorado team confirm its postseason participation without having to go through the always dangerous play-in. Additionally, Nikola Jokic had another magical night and continued to etch his name as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers while also solidifying his position in the race for a second consecutive MVP title.
Nikola Jokic finished the night being the most outstanding man at Ball Arena after leading the Nuggets with a 35-point, 16-rebound and 6-assist performance, as well as stealing four turnovers and making 16 of his 24 shots in another fulfilling performance by the 27-year-old Serbian center. Those numbers helped Jokic become the first player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a single season.
Jokic’s performance drew praise from all of the fans in attendance: Nuggets fans have become accustomed to seeing the Serbian put on such a show. Since making his NBA debut in the 2015/16 season, Nikola Jokic has been steadily rising in stature with the Denver Nuggets, becoming an extremely complete player; a fact which earned him the MVP of the 2021/22 season.
Now, Jokic continues his quest for a second consecutive MVP honor, which would see him become the sixth player in the 21st century to win the award in back-to-back seasons alongside Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Lebron James (a pair of times), Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokoumpo. The numbers back up Nikola Jokic, as he records 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists this season. and no player in NBA history has ever finished a season with those averages.
Nikola Jokic’s revolution at the center position
Nikola Jokic is undoubtedly a top notch player at his position, which has long been associated with tall, stocky, and generally clunky players. Of those qualities, it could be said that the Serbian has only one: height, and don’t be fooled by that — Nikola Jokic is a point guard encased in the body of a center.
The Serbian has been a big part of the Nuggets’ recent success, as he has helped the team qualify for the playoffs for the last three seasons with his ability to not only stand out, but also to make his teammates around him shine with his smart play and excellent passing.
This season even saw Nikola Jokic become the second player in NBA history to record three consecutive games with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and a field goal shooting percentage of 85% or higher. The previous one was none other than renowned player Wilt Chamberlain. In this way, the Serbian continues adding in his race for a new MVP.
