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Nikola Jokic is ready to break out

By Nikola Jelovac

DENVER, CO - APRIL 05: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center on April 5, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 05: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center on April 5, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic has been a constantly well rounded and offensively complete player ever since he came into the league 3 seasons ago for the Denver Nuggets. As we are nearing preseason, lets take a look at why is, by my estimate, Jokic going to make a breakout when the season opener hits October 16th.

There are players with All-Star potential, that made the All-Star game in the past decade or more, that had shined and made a breakout in their 4th year.  Guys like Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson, the quiet All-Stars. And that is the kind Nikola Jokic is for the Denver Nuggets.

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As young individuals, NBA players that enter the league at the age of 19 like Nikola did, still are kids and don’t know the way around the league. As a vet, it is easy to switch teams or enter the league from overseas, and find your spot come season 2, but as a young individual there is a grow-up curve as well as a learning one. Now, when Nikola Jokic is 23 years old and has been in the league for 3 years, I think that it is time to make the jump to the next level. As some sources from Serbia told me, he has spent his summer home at Somber, Serbia training as hard as ever.

With that being said, this year, there is something else for him to prove. He has been placed at number 12 at the (ESPN) list for the upcoming season. There is a burden of just missing playoffs two seasons in a row as well and having to prove to the world that he is worth the money the Nuggets payed him.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do not think that Joker will improve to the “LeBron James” level of play. I don’t think he is going to be a significantly better defender this season. But, what I am sure is that we will see a stronger Nikola, that worked in the gym all summer, a more cautious, more mature player that improves at already being great at picking his spots on the court and balancing his scoring and play making. He will “boost” every stat, but I am not a big stat guy personally, and that is why I will never appreciate and approve of players like Westbrook and KAT for example. Being a good person and a caring teammate is as important as is putting up 30ppg and averaging a triple double. And Nikola is the prior of the two. Now it is time to show that he can be as close to the latter as ever.

Maybe he is not deserving of that 12th spot on the list, but come season time, as he shows everyone he had a breakout during the off season, he will be. 20ppg, 11rpg, 6.5apg and being a leader, the Nuggets win 50 games and make the Playoffs as the 6-8th seed.

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