Nikola Jokic will be featured in the Skills Challenge at the All-Star Break.
The Nuggets center, Nikola Jokic, has quickly made a name for himself in today’s NBA. In just his second year, the Serbian big man has wowed fanatics with his crafty passing and his more than impressive stat-lines.
He sadly will not be featured in the All-Star Game, but he will get to display his skills in the Skills Challenge. In a contest that emphasizes fundamentals, passing, and shooting under pressure, Nikola should thrive in this type of this contest.
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He is replacing Joel Embiid who was going to be there previously. The up-and-coming Denver Nuggets sensation has a chance to show the entire NBA community that he is the real deal. He can finally show that he is not a fluke and that the hype is well justified.
One could go even further though. If Jokic happens to win, which is a distinct possibility, he will put Denver back on the map in terms of being a basketball city getting taken seriously. This could finally signal a return of Mile High basketball to the rest of the league. Do not let the fact that he is a big man deter you from thinking he has a chance.
Bear in mind that Karl Anthony-Towns won the competition last year and was embraced graciously by fellow big men Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, and DeMarcus Cousins when he won. Could we see the champion from last season’s contest celebrating with Nikola Jokic in the same manner if Big Honey pulls it off this year?
Who knows. It is speculation that is worth wondering about though.
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At the end of the day, it is nice to see the NBA acknowledging Jokic’s incredible play and putting him in the spot-light for a night.