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Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic is the best Center in the NBA

By Michael Mannen

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: Center Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: Center Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic is one of the most unique NBA centers and a great leader for the Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic had an amazing 2018-19 season with the Denver Nuggets that has put him in MVP contention with some of the best players in the NBA.

However, what resonates most with fans is how unique a player the Joker is in the NBA.  There is not a single player or Center like him in NBA history.

The Joker despite being a center has elite passing abilities and can run the Denver Nugget offense better than most starting Point-Guards in the NBA. He is the NBA’s first true point-center.

Jokers teammates rave about his passing abilities. According to Paul Millsap in his exit interview,

“He makes the right play everytime, that is whats great about him.He does not force anything. Its gona be the right play, he is going to make the right reads. He’s like a quarterback out there. I consider him like a Tom Brady…I commend him for doing that at this stage of his career.”

So, how does Nikola Jokic compare to other great centers in NBA history? The table below shows how Nikola Jokic compares to other great centers at age 23 or in their first playoff appearance

Statistics for All-Time great centers and power forwards in their first NBA playoffs or age 23. Reference: https://www.basketball-reference.com
Statistics for All-Time great centers and power forwards in their first NBA playoffs or age 23. Reference: https://www.basketball-reference.com /

Few, if any centers, have shown Nikola Jokic‘s dominance in their first playoff appearance or at such a young age.

Considering that Demarcus Cousins is injured and Karl-Anthony Towns has not performed well in the playoffs yet, the only competition that the Joker has for the best center in the NBA is Joel Embiid.

Compared to Joel Embiid in his first playoff appearance, the Joker averages more PPG, RPG, and APG with a better field-goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage.

In the 2019 playoffs, the Joker led all NBA Centers in PPG, RPG, and APG. The Joker was without a doubt the best center in the 2019 playoffs and producing in the playoffs is where it counts. He has also shown that he can lead a franchise in the playoffs. This is something that few NBA centers have ever shown that they can do.

As far as skills are concerned, Nikola Jokic is also a far better three-point shooter, passer, and free-throw shooter than Joel Embiid. This is demonstrated by Nikola Jokic having a higher 3P%, FT%, and APG than Joel Embiid in the playoffs and regular season. Joel Embiid when healthy can be nearly unstoppable offensively and is easily the best rim protector in the NBA.  However, his minute restrictions and health greatly detracted from his performance in the playoffs and in the regular season. For many games in the playoffs and the regular season since 2017, Joel Embiid has not been able to play full games.

Signature to the Joker’s playing style is letting his game do the talking and beating opponents on the basketball court. The Joker led the Denver Nuggets to a game 7 in the Western Conference Semifinals and to the second best record in the Western Conference. And he is only 23 years old.

Nikola Jokic has nearly a decade of upside for the Denver Nuggets and he shown no signs of being injury prone.

So, considering Embiid’s health, is Nikola Jokic the best Center in the NBA? The answer is absolutely yes.

However, Joel Embiid has a mass fan appeal that the Joker does not have yet. But as far as their quality of play is concerned, with Embiid not being fully-healthy, Nikola Jokic is easily the best center in the NBA.

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