Nikola Jokic is an NBA champion and a warrior, a three-time MVP, and oftentimes, one tough cookie to figure out. He says he wants to win, and he wants to add championships to his resume and to the mantle in Denver.
But his play, actions, and words against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs don't back that up like some of the legends of the game. It has Nuggets fans scratching their heads, wondering why we don't see things we could see from a basketball genius.
When asked after the game whether or not he got a "sense that this group wants it, if they really still care," Jokic replied, "yes." That's it.
That's all he mustered up. Not, "Wow, I can't believe you asked me that," followed by something about the insulting comment and integrity, and something something. But, "yes." That's the apathetic-ness the Nuggets have had this series.
Jokic doesn't have what other greats had
It just doesn't make sense sometimes. Jokic is so great. He elevates everyone around him. He led the league in assists this year at 10.7 per game, and he has always done such a fantastic job of finding his open teammates off of the double teams he receives. He's been a more efficient, better-scoring Magic Johnson.
But you know what Magic had? That fire to win at whatever the cost was. Jokic isn't playing like that. And it's going to cost the Nuggets in the series.
Do you think Larry Bird would have been able to call out Magic or vice versa, the way Jaden McDaniels called Jokic a bad defender, and not expect to end up with a hard foul at least once? If not hard, at least make him earn a couple of points at the rim? Hasn't happened.
Tom Brady would yell at the bench and fire up the troops. Michael Jordan did the same. Jokic doesn't, and he himself has admitted he needs to "become the bad guy" to be a better leader.
Those greats aren't bad guys. I get what he means. They just knew what it took to lead. Jokic may never have that. We would all love to see him find it. His brother certainly has it. Joker needs to take lessons.
The Nuggets blew a perfect chance in Game 4
The Nuggets had the perfect opportunity to get the series back to even, and they blew it because Jokic fell apart in the fourth quarter. Again. He hasn't stepped up when the Nuggets needed him most. The last three games, all losses, have put them down 3-1 in the series. And in those three games in the fourth, Jokic is just 2-16 from the field, for 12 total points.
He had no made shots in the fourth quarter og Game 4, but he did get one ejection for finally trying to get in front of Jaden McDaniels when he tried to score a cheap bucket with time running out, so there was that.
And they had a perfect chance with the Timberwolves having lost both Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo to injury. Instead, the Nuggets and Jokic allowed Ayo Dosunmu to score 43 points off the bench. Including some easy layups.
And all we get after the game is a simple, "yes." Yes, the Nuggets still care. Show us. You're the best basketball player in the world, for now. Play some defense, and show us with a 4-3 comeback.
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