Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic appears set for a magical 2018-19
By James Siegle
Can this continue?
Nikola Jokic’s extraordinary play gives fans hope, some to a delusional extent. Ultra-optimists claim this is the championship year. Cynics say it’s early in the season, and another derailment is lurking. Which opinion is correct?
In reality, optimism isn’t a farfetched concept. This past weekend is a great example. On Saturday, Jokic messed around and got a triple-double. On Sunday, he pushed the Nuggets past Golden State, the league’s most-feared dynasty.
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On Saturday against Phoenix, Jokic created waves the size of his seven-foot frame. He posted a 30+ point triple-double without missing a field goal — the only NBA player to do this besides Wilt Chamberlain, per Yahoo! Sports. He also added 12 rebounds and 11 assists to boot. Jokic attacked rookie Deandre Ayton early and often, finishing the first quarter with 14 points. This is what a focused Nikola Jokic looks like.
The next night, the Joker fell back to earth a bit. Yet, he still posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Most notable was this game’s opposing squad. The heavily favored Golden State Warriors were in town, but Jokic and company toppled them. Multiple scrappy defenders tried various techniques, but to no avail. Jokic was simply too much for the reigning champs.
The question is, can he do this consistently? In light of this past weekend, the answer should be yes. Can he pace a steady, superstar performance in an upset over the back-to-back champs? Check. How about posting a historic game in dispatching an inferior squad? Check. All in a weekend’s work, actually.
Jokic is playing well, and refuses to back down from anyone. Last year, he averaged 21.7 points, 11.0 boards and 6.5 assists per game after the All Star break. This year, he seems ready to take the league by storm. It appears the big fella is coming into his own as an NBA superstar.