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NBA Player Power Rankings: 2017 All-Star Weekend Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Denver Nuggets power forward Nikola Jokic (15) warms up before a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Denver Nuggets power forward Nikola Jokic (15) warms up before a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Position: Center
Age: 21 (2/19/1995)
Experience: 2nd Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .580/.365/.816
2016-17 Season Averages: 26.9 MPG, 16.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.1 ORPG, 0.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 3PM

Some may question whether or not Nikola Jokic deserves to be listed, but he’s been steadily building towards a Top 20 ranking. He ranks No. 13 in the NBA in Real Plus-Minus, is shooting 58.0 percent from the field, and has the Denver Nuggets at No. 8 in the Western Conference.

This past week, Jokic silenced his critics with two of the best performances that any player has put forth during the 2016-17 season.

Since Christmas Day, Jokic has averaged 22.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.1 offensive rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 block, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 3-point field goal made in 22 games. Though those numbers may appear to be unsustainable, that may not actually be the case.

Jokic’s full season averages translate to 21.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.2 offensive rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.0 steal, and 0.8 3-point field goals made per 36 minutes.

Jokic began this past week by scoring a career-high 40 points on 17-of-23 shooting against the New York Knicks. Just three days later, he posted 17 points, 21 rebounds, and 12 assists in a stunning upset of the Golden State Warriors.

For what it’s worth, Denver has a team-best net rating of +4.6 with Jokic on the floor and a team-worst net rating of -8.5 without him—a difference of 13.1 points per 100 possessions.