Over the years, Nikola Jokic has earned quite a reputation as a one-man offense, regardless of who else is on the floor. Even with a depleted roster in recent seasons, Jokic has kept Denver afloat and ensured they’ve had an elite offense. They’ve been held back by a lack of depth and poor defense, but Jokic’s offensive brilliance always gives them a shot.
With all of the moves the team has made this offseason, Jokic should actually have the supporting cast around him to be able to reach new heights. The last couple of years, he has had to frequently share the floor with washed-up vets and guys who belonged in the G-League.
But now, the Nuggets can go 12-deep with legitimate NBA talent, and an excellent, versatile mix of youth and veterans. Jokic is going to have all kinds of offensive weapons around him whenever he’s on the floor, and the possibilities are truly endless.
Nuggets’ offense will reach new heights in 2025-26
On a recent episode of the Game Theory podcast, hosts Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon were discussing title contenders and which teams have the best offenses in the league. Simon went as far as to predict that the Nuggets will have the best offensive rating in the NBA this season.
They talked about how the new artillery around Jokic will enhance his game even further. He’ll have shooters, cutters, and screeners constantly surrounding him. He’ll be able to pick on weak links on the defensive end and seek out mismatches left and right.
The added depth should also allow Jokic to rest more and stay fresher. His minutes may go down a bit, but his efficiency could easily skyrocket. The team can actually put four shooters around the Joker, or a second big, or multiple lob threats.
The new coaching staff, led by David Adelman, has a wide variety of options at its disposal, but all paths lead back to Jokic. The coaches and players are all here to help the Nuggets win another championship. But what that really means is they’re here to optimize Jokic.
The team will go as far as Jokic can take them. In the last couple of years, that has been the second round of the playoffs, but his load was simply too heavy.
Now, the load should be much more manageable, and the necessary help should be in place when things get tough. As amazing as Jokic has been so far in his career, his best may still be ahead of him.