“He’s a special player. He will be a one-of-a-kind player, and he will be remembered for eternity.” This is what Nikola Jokic said the day before about Victor Wembanyama, and we could return the compliment. Three-time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokic is already a unique player of his kind, and season after season, he positions himself among the best pivots in history.
In 24 hours, he has just planted 87 points on the best blocker in the NBA, and perhaps even the best defender in the league. Frustrated at having lost the ball for a possible victory the day before, the “Joker” was royal in overtime with 9 points on 4 out of 5 shots to snatch this victory (122-111). “I learn a lot from him” “Wemby” responded. “I'm learning a lot about how he makes others better, but also how I should defend on him. I’m going to watch these two matches again, and I’m sure I’ll learn something from them.”
The Frenchman, penalized by mistakes, let Nikola Jokic gain confidence at the start of the match. The Serb sought this confidence near the circle, and then it was difficult to slow him down. And then, the Serb admits, playing against “Wemby”, Joel Embiid or any renowned center, it pushes you to give the best of yourself.
“I like to say he's a special player, and those kind of players always push you to work harder, to do a little more. I can't wait to play against him for a few more years.” he confided after the meeting.
The defense to get by
From the Nuggets' victory, more than his 46 points, he held back his team's defense in the 4th quarter and overtime. Trailing by 11 points at the start of the last quarter, Mike Malone's players tightened the screw and stifled the Spurs.
“We didn’t play well. We didn't shoot well at all, and I think we only made one 3-pointer in the first half.” analyzes Nikola Jokic. “But we found a way to get through it. Especially by the defense in the fourth quarter… Certainly, they scored baskets, but I think we were focused, connected, and I think that's why we won the match. When you can't score, defense is something that always has to be there, and today it was. »
At the end, it's a fourth victory in five matches for the Nuggets, who are getting closer to the podium in the Western Conference. As for Nikola Jokic, he strengthens his place in the Top 3 of the best scorers, assists and rebounders in the NBA with his 46 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
| 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.
