The first-round series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets has offered a career referendum on one of the most accomplished players of this generation. Despite his stellar resume, a 3-2 deficit has opened a can of worms against Nikola Jokić.
After their third consecutive loss of the series, the Serbian-born superstar even acknowledged that it hasn’t been a great round for him. However, the reality might be far more grim than the three-time MVP alluded to.
Is Nikola Jokić Losing His Title as the Best Player in the World?
Over the 2020s, no player has had a resume as stacked as Jokić. A three-time MVP, an NBA champion, and Finals MVP, he has been a statistical anomaly, ushering in the point center archetype as we now know it.
However, after back-to-back Game 7 losses in the second round, he, alongside the Nuggets as a whole, had something to prove this season. Becoming the first player to simultaneously lead the league in rebounds and assists gave him a unique notch.
But the postseason would ultimately decide his credentials. Unfortunately, through the first four games of the series against the Timberwolves, it was rough going for the seven-time All-NBA selection.
Shooting a career-worst 39% from the field, Jokić found his offense had alienated him, leading to three consecutive losses for the Nuggets, and his clutch-time performance left them in shambles.
In Game 4, despite losing Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, Minnesota still rallied behind Ayo Dosunmu.
And the biggest slice of the blame pie fell to Jokić. While his defense had never been one of his biggest strengths, he was directly called out by Jaden McDaniels after the second game. But he wasn’t able to silence the critics, instead turning in brutal showings in the next two games.
When asked about it, he described his performance as “average.” However, Anthony Slater of ESPN was firmly against the description.
Instead, he believed Jokić had been far worse than even average standards. “If we’re being real, it’s been much below his average.”
Expanding on his point with numbers, Slater added, “We’re talking about a guy who shoots 56% from the field for his career, once had a season where he shot 63%, has never shot worse than 47% in a playoff series. And in this playoff series, he’s shooting 39% overall, 18% from three, 5-of-21 in fourth quarters.”
Even though his defense was never going to be a strength, the dramatic fall on the other side of the ball has been inexplicable and has ultimately cost the Nuggets in a major way. Without Edwards and DiVincenzo, Denver has a chance at mounting a comeback.
But the odds are stacked against them, and with other stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama inching closer, his vice grip on the best-in-the-world title could be loosening by the second.
