There are many things that set Nikola Jokic apart from other NBA stars of past and present. His stats and box scores alone put him on a pedestal that few - if any - have ever come close to before. He continues to dazzle on the court in every possible way, putting up magical numbers and making highlight-reel plays left and right.
His current run of five straight triple-doubles ahead of the fourth quarter is just the latest example of a record so ludicrous, that most wouldn’t even imagine it. The thought that he just keeps raising the bar and surpassing it for his own accomplishments has become almost expected at this point, is ridiculous in itself.
The latest viral moment came on Thursday night when Jokic casually chucked a 65-footer into the basket as the final buzzer of the third quarter sounded. The shot and ensuing (lack of) reaction sent the basketball world into a frenzy and this highlight will live on forever.
It’s impressive and refreshing to see a superstar of his status so willing to fire up low-percentage shots and it’s no fluke either. If it feels like Jokic is often in a position to launch up half and fullcourt shots at the end of quarters, that’s because he is.
Jokic on historical pace for heave attempts
A “heave” is considered a shot that is attempted from beyond halfcourt, and to nobody’s surprise, Jokic leads the NBA in heave attempts with 10 this season. Only four other players in the league have even attempted 5 or more heaves this season and to add historical context, Jokic is the first player to reach 10 attempts in a full season since Steph Curry did it in the 2020-21 season.
Nikola Jokić leads the NBA in attempted heaves this season—he's the first player to attempt at least 10 heaves in a season since Stephen Curry attempted 11 in 2020-21.
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) January 24, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/TQJPXhItjE pic.twitter.com/AFvfq7lcHV
On the surface, you may think, “Well why wouldn’t star players be jacking up buzzer beaters all the time?” And there is some merit to that idea, but it’s actually not the case. There has been a sort of pandemic during this age of analytics that has caused players to avoid taking heaves that could worsen their shooting percentages.
If you watch closely, you’ll often notice that players in position to take heaves will even wait until the buzzer sounds before putting up the long-range shot, knowing that it won’t count. Most players would rather preserve their FG% and 3P% than take the chance that the shot goes in and helps their team win the game.
Jokic cares about nothing but winning
But like all things Nikola Jokic, he is as selfless a player as there is. The thought of preserving his stats would never even occur to him. He knows that there is a small chance his heaved shots are going in, but any chance to help the team is one he’ll take.
He has already taken 10 heaves, and he’ll probably put up 10 more. Odds are, he won’t make another one this year and we’ll completely forget about the heaves as those long misses will fly under the radar.
But it was all worth it for the 3 points he added for the Nuggets on Thursday night. Anyone who thinks Jokic is stat-padding or hunting for numbers should take a look at this stat that shows just the opposite to actually be the case. This is who Jokic is through and through and should tell you everything you need to know about him as a player and a person.