NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2019-20

At the top of the center pyramid is Nikola Jokic, who combines personal offensive scoring ability with a league-leading passing ability that elevates everyone on his team. The heights that the Denver Nuggets reached last season are a testament to Jokic and how he creates an offense that is greater than the sum of its parts.

NBA defenses are not used to defending a center who can bring the ball up the court, initiate offense, shoot from deep and throw scorching dimes to any spot on the court. He bends the defense in unique ways, causing creases for his teammates to cut into.

Jokic and Wilt Chamberlain are the only 7-footers to average more than seven assists per game in a season, as Jokic did last year.

The main weaknesses for Jokic were targeted as his lack of rim protection and the question of what would happen to his free-flowing passing displays in the postseason. He answered the former question by showing effort, intelligence and size can make up for a lack of vertical movement and last year’s Nuggets defended well with him on the court.

He answered the second in the postseason, taking on his shoulders the scoring burden when necessary and leading the Nuggets to within a game of the Western Conference Finals.

Looking ahead: At 24 years old, Jokic is still looking up at the peak of his powers and every season he gets just a touch more trim and strong. The best parts of his game, the intelligence and passing genius, should only get better with time. Jamal Murray could push for All-Star consideration with a step forward this season, but he seems destined to be a co-star.

Michael Porter Jr, if he can stay healthy and build multiple offseasons of development, still has star-level upside down the road.