NBA legend Rick Berry on Jokic.
The Denver Nuggets went 53-29 this season and finished first in the West. The return of Jamal Murray (191 cm, G) and Michael Porter Jr (206 cm, F) was a huge boost. But there were plenty of other players who stepped up.
One of the biggest contributors has been Nikola Jokic (211 cm, C). Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists this season. Although he was unable to win his third straight regular season MVP award, he was in contention with Joel Embiid (213 cm, C) for regular season MVP until the end.
Jokic’s play continued in the playoffs. In the first round, they met the defending champion Minnesota Timberwolves, but Minnesota’s “Twin Towers” couldn’t control Jokic. Jokic showed his versatility by averaging 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists in the first round. As a result, Denver took a 4-1 series win over Minnesota.
Jokic’s play has continued since then. The Nuggets faced the Phoenix Suns, a team anchored by Kevin Durant (206 cm, F) and Devin Booker (196 cm, G), and the matchup was highly anticipated as a showdown between two strong title contenders. However, Denver came out victorious over Phoenix, taking the series 4-2. Along the way, Jokic put up monster numbers of 34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 10.3 assists.
The Nuggets then met the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals, which they won 4-0. Once again, Jokic led the way. Despite facing the league’s best defender in Anthony Davis (6-foot-9, F-C), Jokic averaged 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists to lead his team to victory 메이저놀이터.
NBA legend Rick Berry weighed in on Jokic’s performance. Berry told Clutch Point: “There’s never been a center like Jokic in the history of the NBA. I really like his game. Without a doubt, he’s the best unathletic player to ever play the game. (Yin) He plays basketball with his head, not his body. He’s really special.”
As Berry said, Jokic’s game comes from his head, not his body. He has many strengths, but his ability to keep his teammates alive is one of the best of all time at the center position.
In these playoffs, it’s certainly been on display. Jokic is averaging 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 10.3 assists, showing his versatility. With Jokic at the helm, Denver has reached the NBA Finals for the first time since its inception.