Nikola Jokic dazzles with no look pass
The NBA is back. Well, at least the offseason is over and the preseason has begun.
With the first preseason game in the books, the Denver Nuggets took down the defending champion Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena 108-102.
Although these games don’t necessarily mean anything to the regular season, they can tell us a lot about which players are ready to make their mark this year.
One such player is Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic. Casual fans probably don’t know his name, but don’t be surprised if Jokic and an improved Nuggets roster climbs the NBA power ladder.
Jokic came into the league a relatively unknown nearly 300 pound rookie. Since he first dawned a baby blue Denver uni, the big man has worked hard to cut his weight down and make his body a well oiled NBA machine.
Over the offseason, one of his primary objectives was to drop even more weight and put on some muscle. Today, he weighs around 249 pounds and has even managed to erase 30 pounds of fat in this offseason alone.
We already know he’s hands down the most talented passing center in the league, but with his tireless efforts in the offseason, the NBA will likely come to know him as the newest member of the Western Conference Allstar team.
Am I overreacting to his 2017-2018 preseason debut? Maybe. However, it’s not a wild idea to assume that with more mobility, a more seasoned post game and unmatched vision, that Jokic will improve his per game stats significantly from last year.
The Joker averaged 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season. While impressive numbers without any context, throw in the fact that he played a mere 27.9 minutes a game and the stats jump off the page.
What’s more astounding is the young Serbian managed be the key cog in a Nuggets offense that finished third in points per game behind Houston and Golden State.
Now lighter, stronger than ever and paired with Allstar power forward and fellow passing visionary Paul Milsap, don’t tell me I told you so when Jokic and the Nuggets turn heads in the loaded Western Conference.
