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NBA Player Power Rankings: Superstars Keep Making History

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) guards Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 129-114. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) guards Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 129-114. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Position: Power Forward
Age: 22 (2/19/1995)
Experience: 2nd Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .581/.333/.828
2016-17 Season Averages: 27.4 MPG, 16.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.0 ORPG, 4.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.6 3PM

The Denver Nuggets have fallen out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, but that could be a temporary spill. There’s still time left in the season and a star on the roster who does a bit of everything on the offensive end of the floor.

Jokic is still finding his niche on defense, but it’s taken less than two seasons for the 22-year-old to become a star-caliber player on offense.

Jokic began this past week by going off for 30 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and a steal on 12-of-18 shooting from the field in a 125-117 win over the Indiana Pacers. He scored just eight points the following game, but pulled down 13 rebounds.

With his back suddenly against the wall, Jokic bounced back with 17 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jokic ranks at No. 7 in the NBA in Real Plus-Minus, No. 11 in Offensive RPM, and cracks the Top 50 in Defensive RPM. He’s maintained an elite level of efficiency, which may be the most impressive aspect of his meteoric rise.

For what it’s worth, the last three players before Jokic to average at least 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds on 58.0 percent shooting or better were Dwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Every one of those players earned multiple All-NBA selections.