At 29 years of age, big man Nikola Jokic is already among the greatest centers in NBA history.
Famously selected during a Taco Bell advertisement, Jokic has transformed the center position, demonstrating that virtual seven-footers can be as effective playmakers as their point-guard equivalents.
‘The Joker’ might compete in the NBA, but he’s truly in a league of his own.
MVP No. 4? There’s a good chance…
The current MVP has performed impeccably this season, scoring a remarkable 104 points in 24 hours in early December.
Jokic remains in contention to win a fourth MVP as Denver transitions from one of the most efficient NBA offenses in his presence to one of the least effective in his absence.
Should Jokic keep his current pace but the Nuggets continue sputtering to mediocrity, we could see yet another Most Valuable Player Award go to a player who hasn’t played on the championship-winning team.
According to NBA sportsbook options, that’s the exact scenario we’re currently dealing with…
NBA Regular Season MVP Odds
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) @ +110 – Favorite
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) @ +2000 – 8th Favorite
NBA Championship Odds
- Boston Celtics @ +225 – Favorite
Denver Nuggets @ +1600 – Fifth Favorite
One-Man Team
Regrettably, Jokic’s excellence has not influenced his teammates enough thus far.
The Nuggets have not maintained the same caliber as during their 2023 championship season. Recently, they suffered a humiliating defeat to the 4-22 Washington Wizards, the worst team in the league.
Michael Malone’s club is now fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 15-11.
While Jokic has consistently delivered exceptional performances, the Nuggets are unlikely to make an impact in the playoffs without significant contributions from Russell Westbrook, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
The insane number that even Jordan can’t match!
The Denver Nuggets great is a single-time world champion and Finals MVP, in addition to being a three-time MVP, a feat accomplished by just eight other players. One would suggest the Serbian giant is a walking triple-double, having just surpassed Hall of Famer Magic Johnson for third place on the all-time triple-doubles leaderboard with 141 (and counting).
Despite his extraordinary abilities and accomplishments, one specific statistic illustrates the profound absurdity of Joker’s influence on the game: Jokic has the highest player-by-player efficiency rating in basketball history, surpassing six-time champion and widely regarded best-of-all-time Michael Jordan.
What’s the big deal about PER?
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a comprehensive basketball measure consolidating a player’s contributions into a single numerical value.
PER is a per-minute metric that assesses a player’s production and influence on the game. It is calculated by adding positive statistics and subtracting negative statistics using a point value system. Over the past two decades, PER has gained prominence among analysts and media members, who see it as the ‘golden stat’ of sophisticated basketball numbers.
A lifetime PER beyond 20 is deemed excellent— Jokic holds the all-time record with an extraordinary 28.21 in the regular season and 29.17 in the playoffs.
For added contrast, MJ is second all-time in PER, and a fellow GOAT, LeBron James, is third. And what is the best part about Jokic sitting in the No. 1 spot? At 29, he’s far from finished!
Is Jokic really better than Wilt?
Jokic has been putting up Wilt Chamberlain numbers recently.
Chamberlain’s career numbers suggest he was a ball hog, as seen by his average of 4.4 assists per game. This indicates that he may not have been as proficient a distributor as Jokic, but Wilt actually led the league in total assists during the 1967-68 season with 702 dimes over 82 games. To this day, Chamberlain is the only center to have earned the assists crown.
Despite never capturing the assist championship, Jokic is a far superior passer compared to Wilt. He is now averaging a triple-double for the season, a feat accomplished by just two other players, neither of whom were centers. His statistical averages of 30.9 points, 13.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game are almost unparalleled, with only Russell Westbrook achieving such figures during his MVP season.
Perhaps the most staggering number is the difference in his play on the court and when he is on the bench. This season, the Nuggets are 27.1 points better with Jokic on the floor.
He’s so good we’re no longer surprised
No player has ever influenced victory to this extent, even while driving his team’s offense. Jokic is having a historically exceptional season, but unfortunately, we have gotten so used to his performance that it will soon be seen as another ordinary regular season.
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