The Denver Nuggets took down the Brooklyn Nets, 112-104, on Wednesday night. While that score may not necessarily catch your eye, how about the score of Denver’s Nikola Jokic vs Brooklyn’s starting five?
And one more time.
Jokic: 41 points
Brooklyn starting five: 40 pointsWow. #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) November 8, 2017
Yes, Jokic outscored the Nets’ five starters, 41-40.
.@JokicNikola15 records his first career 40/10 game in the @Nuggets 112-104 win over the @BrooklynNets.
? 41 pts/12 reb/5 ast/2 blks pic.twitter.com/4XpPRsoMxI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 8, 2017
The 41 points — on a very efficient 14-of-25 from the field, 5-6 at the line — are a career-high for Jokic. But there would seem to be a good chance the 22-year-old tops that mark soon, because he’s really, really good.
He can shoot the three. He can make (literally) impossible passes. He can work the post. He lives in the midrange. He can run the point. He can draw the and-1. He's got footwork like this.
What can Nikola Jokić not do? https://t.co/Bj5xF9rrQR
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 8, 2017
Michael Malone was asked if there’s anything Nikola Jokic can’t do, after his career-high 41 points: “He can’t jump very high…Nikola Jokic is one of the better players in the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/zvE3kfdb6x
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 8, 2017
Jokic has a rare all-around skillset for a 6-foot-10, 250-pounder. The Serbian is averaging 17.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game this season. While it’s a small sample size just 11 games into the season, Jokic has also seen a significant increase in his three-point percentage (43.9% this season, 32.4% last season) and free throw percentage (90%, up from 82.5%).
Things this three-point shot could've made it over:
1. A one story house
2. Probably a giraffe
3. A crane if it is on the smaller side
4. Two cars stacked on top of each other
5. Elephant
6. Multiple elephants?
5. All of the Nets
6. Especially that outstretched hand https://t.co/pdU9eLYfjH— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 8, 2017
Jokic is just one of the many young stars in the NBA right now, and the league is in pretty damn good shape going forward.
Ben Simmons is 21 years old.
Karl-Anthony Towns is 21 years old.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is 22 years old.
Kristaps Porzingis is 22 years old.
Nikola Jokic is 22 years old.
Joel Embiid is 23 years old.
Anthony Davis is 24 years old.
The future of the NBA is in good hands.— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) November 8, 2017