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Denver Nuggets: Five reasons the Nuggets are for real

By Dean Hasan

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball down the court against Avery Bradley #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter at Pepsi Center on February 12, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball down the court against Avery Bradley #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter at Pepsi Center on February 12, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

5. Nikola Jokic is arguably the best center in the league this year

This might be a highly contentious statement, particularly for fans of the Philadelphia 76ers or Utah Jazz, but by the numbers and the eye test, Nikola Jokic has a strong case for being the best at his position. On the season, he’s averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, along with 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game on .528/.332/.817 splits. Best of all, he’s doing it in just 32.4 minutes per night, and he’s yet to sit out a game this season.

Where Jokic shines the most is through his transcendent court vision. Jokic’s 6.8 assists per game land him at 17th in the league, and with the exception of whatever LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Ben Simmons are classified as, all of the players currently ranked above him are guards.

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Among players who see the floor for at least 15 minutes per game, Jokic is 19th in assist percentage with a 34.3 percent, meaning that when he’s on the court over a third of his team’s buckets are a direct result of his dimes. Within this group, the only non-guards ranked ahead of Jokic are James and Doncic, putting the Joker in elite company, especially given his position.

While Jokic’s counting stats are already nice to look at, Big Honey is even more of an advanced stats darling. In terms of value over replacement player (VORP), Jokic ranks third in the NBA with a 4.9, he’s fifth in box plus/minus with an 8.3 and he’s sixth in the league in win shares with 8.7.

Most impressively is how he does it all without dominating the ball, as his 27.0 usage percentage ranks just 32nd among players who get at least 15 minutes of action per game. Put simply, Jokic does a lot, and he does it with comparatively less than his fellow superstars. By all metrics, he’s one of the most impactful players at both his position and in the entire NBA.

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