With 30.7 points, 13 rebounds and 9.7 assists on average, Nikola Jokic compiles absolutely exceptional stats this season. Thus, he is the third scorer and rebounder but also the second passer in the league! But perhaps the most striking figure is that of his 3-point address: 49.2% success in this exercise.
This time, no one is doing better in the NBA, and the Serbian has improved significantly. Two more figures to prove it. Last season he was at 35.9% from behind the arc, and his best season before that was in 2017/18 with 39.6% from 3-point range. As we can see, the leap forward is very important and does not fall from the sky.
The three-time MVP insists on the crucial aspect of the outside shot in his game, because a good shot helps both the player in question and his team. As he still wanted to progress and remained in a disappointing 2024 playoffs in this area (26%), he wanted – literally – to correct the situation. Like Anthony Edwards for example.
“Before the season, we talked about his shot, what we could do with it. We decided to put the ball closer to his body and eliminate unnecessary movements”describes Ogi Stojakovic, assistant coach of the Nuggets, for The Athletic. “He tried, it suited him and it helped a lot. From there it was a matter of repeating. »
Put less strain on your legs
The basics were already good since Nikola Jokic is a reliable 3-point shooter. The problem was in the balance between his game and his gesture. That's to say ? A pivot who likes contact, he becomes exhausted throughout the match after battling with the opposing defenders. From then on, it was often very short at the end of the match.
He therefore used the time between the Paris Olympics and the return to the NBA to make a difference to his shooting. He now draws higher and uses his arms more and less his legs, which are heavy at the end of the match. And it works since the Nuggets star has never attempted so many winning shots (4.6 average) and never, as we have said, has she been so lethal.
“What we like is that it requires less energy to shoot,” specifies Ogi Stojakovic. “After the Olympic Games, we realized that we had to refine our shooting and now it’s better. His shot is cleaner and he has more confidence. »
And we know how important confidence is for a long-range shooter. Now the most skillful man in the league behind the arc, a perfect weapon to last over time, Nikola Jokic continues to improve.
“Playing with the national team, which is almost like another playoff series for him, when every game and possession counts, it was good. He started his season in good physical shape,” concludes the Denver assistant coach. “We are continually trying to add elements to his game. He has been the best player in the world for five or seven years and each period of his career brings new challenges. He is tactically much better than a few years ago, and now we want to take care of his longevity. »
| Nikola Jokic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 80 | 22 | 51.2 | 33.3 | 81.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 9.9 |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 73 | 28 | 57.8 | 32.4 | 82.5 | 2.9 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 16.7 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 18.5 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 80 | 31 | 51.1 | 30.7 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 32 | 52.8 | 31.4 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 19.9 |
| 2020-21 ★ | DEN | 72 | 35 | 56.6 | 38.8 | 86.8 | 2.8 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ★ | DEN | 74 | 34 | 58.3 | 33.7 | 81.0 | 2.8 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 69 | 34 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 24.5 |
| 2023-24 ★ | DEN | 79 | 35 | 58.3 | 35.9 | 81.7 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 26.4 |
| 2024-25 | DEN | 29 | 37 | 56.1 | 49.2 | 80.1 | 3.4 | 9.6 | 13.0 | 9.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 30.7 |
| Total | 704 | 32 | 55.8 | 35.9 | 82.6 | 2.7 | 8.2 | 10.8 | 7.0 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 21.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
