Nikola Jokic is an artist keeping the way of the post scorer alive

Denver encourages Nikola Jokic by funneling its offense into the post.

On average, the only teams that funnel their offense through the post consistently these days are the Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. This is largely a byproduct of their star players’ abilities, but for the Nuggets, the post is also a conduit through which the overall offense can thrive.

To aid his superstar, head coach Michael Malone deploys unique sets that come to a head with Jokic posted up near the basket — usually on the right side, where he’s most comfortable. Denver’s primary ball-handlers are well-versed in pinpoint entry passes to ensure that Jokic can get to work in the zone where he’s best positioned to score.

If not for Nikola Jokic, young basketball fans and hopeful up-and-coming bigs wouldn’t have someone to inspire them from the low post. Although Jokic’s Eastern Conference counterpart, Joel Embiid, is a fantastic post player in his own right, he’s still not on ‘The Joker’s’ level from the block. It wouldn’t be possible without the encouragement of the Nuggets’ coaches and players.

Art and basketball are the same in that they’re free-flowing expressions of one’s will that ebb and flow with trends of their time. The ways we view them will change as we evolve as a people. Old styles will always return and innovators will push the envelope to create new styles for eternity. In modern basketball, the post-up is an undesirable technique associated with old-school hoops.

But for all of the junkies still clinging on to the beauty of post play, Nikola Jokic is a living testament to its ability to persevere.