Now that the Nuggets have gone out and fixed the roster in a way that should eliminate much of what has plagued them for the past two seasons, it’s time to finally get Nikola Jokic some rest. Jokic has been on one of the most incredible runs in NBA history over the past few years, and it has been amazing to watch and enjoy, but it’s simply not sustainable if the goal is to win as many titles as possible.
While the drop-off may not be noticeable, the Nuggets and Jokic have clearly worn down in the playoffs over the last two years. His regular-season burden has been absurd, and while he’s capable of handling it, the mileage and tread on the tires add up.
We see small dips in defense and energy, taking plays off here and there, because he knows that he has basically had to do everything on offense to keep the team afloat. A real catch-22 situation was unfolding in Denver; the Nuggets had virtually no chance of winning without Jokic playing a massive amount of minutes, but they also had no chance at long-term success with Jokic playing that many minutes.
Nuggets should be able to offer Jokic plenty of rest
But now, things have changed. The Nuggets have a deep lineup with the ability to play multiple bigs. They should be able to survive the non-Jokic minutes, and possibly even win them. They’ll have the luxury of being able to rest him for much longer stretches while guys like Jonas Valanciunas, DaRon Holmes, and Aaron Gordon should be more than capable of holding things down.
Last season, Jokic played almost 37 minutes per game, which is simply way too high for such a long regular season. He should be closer to the low 30s this season and hopefully won’t be called upon to carry such a heavy burden while on the court.
On top of the minutes, they should actually be able to give him nights off and truly manage the big fella as he moves into his 30s. Inevitably, Denver will have a tough stretch of travel, featuring a brutal back-to-back or three games in four nights. It’s also inevitable that Jokic will take his usual beating and get battered and bruised as the season goes on.
Now, the team can actually give him games off regularly while staying competitive on the court. It’s a whole new world in Denver, and it’s going to take some getting used to.
Jokic stats and accolades may suffer
There’s a real chance that Jokic’s numbers take a dip across the board this season. He can defer to others and trust his teammates more to carry some of the load. With fewer games, fewer minutes, and lower stats, Jokic may actually take a step back from the MVP race for the first time in years.
While that may be somewhat frustrating, it’s for the greater good. On paper, it may not be the best Jokic season. But if the team is better, deeper, and more versatile, with a fresh, well-rested Jokic heading into the playoffs, the Nuggets are going to be in a great position to raise another banner.