Denver Nuggets: 5 goals for Nikola Jokic in 2017-18
3. Earn All-Star nod in the Western Conference
Nikola Jokic was one of the most surprising players to break out in the NBA last season, and while his eye-popping stat lines helped him generate appeal among fans from his home country, it would not be enough to help the 2016 Olympic silver medalist earn a spot as a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team.
Instead, Jokic settled for the opportunity of playing alongside Nuggets teammates Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray in the Rising Stars Game. He also participated in the Skills Challenge, advancing past DeMarcus Cousins in the quarterfinals before falling at the hands of the eventual champion, Kristaps Porzingis.
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While being a part of All-Star Weekend was a great experience for Jokic, failing to earn an official nod to play in the league’s premier gala had to hurt the man who help guide the Nuggets back to popularity last year.
After being inserted back into the starting lineup in mid-December, Jokic helped Denver become arguably the best offensive team in basketball.
The team scored over 110 points per 100 possessions during that time span, and were in the race for the eighth seed, as Jokic helped Denver get to within .500 after getting off to a 9-16 start through 25 games.
Should Jokic find a way to help the Nuggets carry last year’s offensive success into this coming season alongside the likes of Murray, Mudiay, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap, he would more than likely have his name in the running for a spot in the 2018 All-Star Game in February.
If selected, he would be the first Denver player to make the cut since Carmelo Anthony in 2011, putting his name alongside of some of the game’s finest stars at the league’s premier gala — an honor that every player dreams to accomplish someday.