After missing Tuesday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics, Nikola Jokić showed his worth as the most valuable player in the association. How could a player show their value in a game he missed? The Nuggets struggled heavily during periods against the reigning champions, which further proved his worth. Taking averages of 31.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 9.7 assists away from a team would typically mean two solid players were out. Not for the Nuggets. All that production comes from Jokić. Replicating that production while he is out is giving their players an impossible task.
Nikola Jokić is Proving Himself as the Most Valuable Player
The Nuggets are a Different Team without Jokić
Jokić has missed four of Denver’s 35 games this season. Without him, they are 1-3 on the season. Although Jokić has cemented himself as one of the league’s best players, the drop-off without him is significant. In the four games without their superstar, the Nuggets averaged 103.0 points, 42.3 rebounds, and 25.0 assists per game. Their shooting accuracy in those games are 44.7% from the field and 32.9% from three. The Nuggets lost direction on offense at times in those contests. Jokić is the Nuggets’ captain of the ship, guiding them on offense. The Nuggets have proven a ship is nothing without their captain.
With Jokić, the Nuggets are 19-12. Their offense is elite when he is on the floor. In games he plays, their averages rise across the board. They average 122.6 points, 45.5 rebounds, and 32.3 assists per game. The Nuggets shoot 50.3% from the field and 38.7% from three. One player causing such a significant difference in per-game averages speaks to how much the Nuggets rely on Jokić. He is the backbone of the team, especially on offense.
It’s not just games where Jokić misses where the Nuggets struggle without him. When Jokić goes to the bench, the Nuggets’ offense falls apart, but their defense plays roughly the same. On the season, Jokić has an 11.0 net rating with a 124.2 offensive rating and 113.2 defensive rating. The Nuggets have a 3.1 net rating with a 116.9 offensive rating and 113.8 defensive rating on the season. With Jokić playing 37.1 minutes per game, it shows how huge a drop-off the team experiences when he is not on the court.
Jokić Defines the Definition of Value
Several factors determine the value of anything in life. A conglomeration of ideals and uses determines value, which remains the same in sports. Statistics are only one portion of a player’s value to their organization. Jokić’s statistics are eye-popping and contribute to his value as a player, but it extends beyond the stats. When deciding which player deserves the MVP award, attitude, responsibility, impact, and performance are huge factors.
Jokić’s attitude has remained consistent since arriving in the NBA. He wants to win but treats the NBA as his job. Goals are subjective — for some players, it can be fame, status, or money. For Jokić, it is improving and winning. He has done exactly that during his ten seasons in the NBA. Rising from a second round pick to a three-time MVP, an unprecedented feat, Jokić has defied the odds. He helped bring the Nuggets to their first NBA Finals in the franchise’s history, winning it in five games.
Regarding responsibility and impact, Jokić carries his weight and more. The Nuggets’ elite offense runs through Jokić. He is responsible for producing every night, or else the Nuggets’ hopes of winning drop significantly. In games where he scores 30 points or more, the Nuggets are 11-5. In the other 14 games, they are 8-7. With the Nuggets needing him in his top form every game, he must carry them to victory. Out of his 31 games, he has finished with a positive plus/minus in 22, going 18-4. The Nuggets are 1-8 in the other nine.
Jokić is out to an early MVP lead due to his consistent success and the impact he provides to the team. It is nearly impossible for the Nuggets to win if Jokić doesn’t play to his standards. His value to the Nuggets extends beyond the stat sheet.
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