There isn't anything like watching Nikola Jokić hit a heave shot at the end of a quarter. There isn't anything like watching Jokić play basketball in general, but the nonchalant one-handed heave that he hit last season was next level. Some players don't like to attempt those kinds of shots because they previously hurt their shooting percentage, but the Denver Nuggets superstar doesn't care.
If he did care, he'd like to know that the NBA implemented a new rule change. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that "unsuccessful end-of-quarter heaves will now be recorded as a missed field-goal attempt for the team, not the player."
The NBA will implement a new change for the 2025-26 season: unsuccessful end-of-period heaves will now be recorded as a missed field-goal attempt for the team, not the player, sources tell ESPN. Those long heaves will no longer impact an individual player's percentages.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 10, 2025
As NBA fans read the news, there is one player who came to mind more than others — Jokić. His 22 heaves last season led the league, with the next closest player, Mikal Bridges, attempting 12. That's quite a big gap between Jokić and Bridges.
NBA leaders in heave attempts last season:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) September 10, 2025
Nikola Jokic - 22
Mikal Bridges - 12
Anthony Edwards - 10
Tyrese Haliburton - 9
Michael Porter Jr. - 8
Coby White - 8
Payton Pritchard - 8
Fred VanVleet - 8
Naji Marshall - 8
There were only 12 heaves made.
Jokić is about to smash even more efficiency records
As Bennett Durando of the Denver Post pointed out on X (Twitter), Jokić went 2-for-22 on his heave attempts last season. He shot a career-high 41.7% from three, but if the rule had been implemented last season, he would've shot an incredulous 44% from three.
Jokić's three-point percentage last season was second-best in the league for centers, behind Karl-Anthony Towns, who shot 42% from deep. He and Jokić both averaged 4.7 three-point attempts per game, but KAT had zero heaves.
Towns is regarded as the best shooting big in the game, so it's quite impressive, even for Jokić, that his three-point percentage was right behind KAT's. He could surpass Towns with the best three-point percentage among centers next season, now that his heave attempts won't count toward his stats.
Just when you thought Jokić couldn't get any better. The best part is that he wasn't worried about his stats in the first place. He would've continued to get his heave attempts up without a second thought. Jokić values winning over his individual statistics, all while being one of the most efficient players ever to play the game.
There will be plenty more heave attempts to come from Jokić, but it's hard to envision one being better than this one.
OH MY JOKIĆ JOKIĆ JOKIĆ 😱😱😱
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2025
HITS A NONCHALANT HEAVE FROM 3/4 COURT!! pic.twitter.com/6nn3f6kU4c
If there's one player who can one-up themselves, though, it's Jokić. Who says no to a left-handed heave shot next season? Why not?