The last box was checked by Nikola Jokić.
A TV station on X said, “It is not a @nuggets pregame show without a Nikola Jokić graphic.” Play #MileHighBasketball It is at https://t.co/FEeuTK5N1t” / X
After the hard-fought 94–89 win in Game 5 over the Miami Heat, he was asked a lot of questions about his reputation. He was also given a lot of hot shots and pot shots. The fire from last year has gone out.
Jokić won an NBA title and was named tournament MVP.
He has now joined a small group of players who have won at least one Finals MVP and two NFL MVPs:
Tim Duncan, Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are some of the best players in NBA history.
That is eleven names if you do not count. These are the eleven best basketball players ever. Yes, it is time to add Jokić to that list of great people.
Jokić just finished one of the best playoff runs by a single player in league history.
The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic makes history against the Houston Rockets – Sports Illustrated Denver Nuggets news, analysis, and more
The Nuggets won 16 of their 20 games, and Jokić had 600 points, 269 boards, and 190 assists. Jokić won all three awards during the season. That has never been done before. The league has been around since 1946 if you include the years it was part of the BAA. Wilt has been to 13 playoff games. There are 13 for MJ and 16 for LeBron.
That is something they have never done before. Not a single person.
Green and Sengun help the Rockets beat the Nuggets 105–86 in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament | AP News
When Jokić recorded a ridiculous stat line (or set of lines) around Denver for a few years, people would say, “Not since Wilt.”
That has recently changed into “Not Even Wilt.”
In this way, the playoffs (and really this whole three-year event) are more about making memories than keeping them safe.
Mike Porter Jr. told Jokić, “I do not think you can put it in context” when asked about this playoffs. “He helps our team in a lot of ways.” “I think most people do not know what a great basketball player he is.”
Now they do. They should, anyway.
It is said that Jokic will sign a super-max deal | theScore.com
Most of the two years that Jokić won regular season MVP, “best player in the world” was the standard comment. It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo is talking. Some of them are held by Kevin Durant or LeBron James. Some loud fans and experts are even trying to get 2022–23 MVP Joel Embiid to join. Very few people are on the JokiÇ team.
You can feel the tides changing during this tournament.
Jokić’s position at the top of the mountain was now a clear line.
As of the start of the 2020–21 season (including the playoffs), he has the most plus/minus points of any player in the league. He was also named the Finals’ Most Valuable Player.
BPM is a box score-based measure that estimates how much a basketball player helps the team while they are on the court.
He was third in points scored, first in rebounds, third in assists, and first in raw plus-minus during that time.
63.0% of his two-point shots, 37.3% of his three-point shots, and 83.0% of his free throws were made.
In terms of numbers, no one comes close. The argument is no longer just about numbers.
After Game 5, MPJ said, “This is a historic run.” “How can you say he is not the best big man ever?”
“We saw a strong front,” Aaron Gordon said. “We have never seen a center of attention before. “That makes him the first.”
“He earned being named the Finals MVP,” Jamal Murray said. “He keeps people in touch.”
What we are seeing is a truly unique player who has made it clear that he puts the team’s goals ahead of his own. They got tired of his attitude and energy, and that is why they won the title together.
He said almost every name on the list when asked which partner he was most excited to see win it all.
“All of them,” replied Jokić. “pretty much every player.”
Since Jokić will be on the Nuggets next season, you can be sure that they will have the same attitude. Not a single sign has he shown that he wants or will play any other way.
For the near future, that should help Denver keep its spot as a championship contender. On the platform, Michael Malone said that they were not happy with just one title. He needs more.
Jokić did something on Monday that will make his reputation even stronger, even if he does not win any more championships. Jokić scored 28 points on 12 of 16 shots, grabbed 16 rebounds, and gave out 4 assists in Game 5. His teammates shot 26 of 68 (38.2%) from the field. He has the best plus-12 score on the team.
And he proved that you can win on the biggest stage in basketball, confirming three years of success in the NBA.