Ridiculous Jokic stat proves why Nuggets don't need a backup point guard

If there’s anything the Nuggets’ freshly stacked roster is missing, it would have to be a backup point guard, but the team has shown that the position is not a priority. One of the biggest reasons why is that the team’s starting center, Nikola Jokic, is the hub of the offense, the guy who runs the show, and creates the gravity to make it all work.

One stat to highlight why Jokic can essentially be the team’s backup point guard is the efficiency of inverted pick partners. The measure calculates the number of points scored per direct pick set by a player considered a guard for a player considered a center.

Comically, Jokic is responsible for six of the top 10 pairings from last season, including each of the top three spots. In other words, when Jokic is handling the ball, almost any one of his teammates screening for him leads to absurdly efficient offense. It’s easy to see why the Nuggets think they have plenty of creation and lead ballhandling on the roster.

Jokic and Jamal Murray made up for the top pair on the list as Murray’s direct screens for Jokic led to an average of 1.59 points. That was the best duo by a wide margin, but second was Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. at 1.32, then Jokic and Peyton Watson at 1.29.

He pops up again on the list at seventh, generating 1.15 points per screen set by Russell Westbrook. Jokic also had the eighth spot with Christian Braun at 1.08 points, and the 10th spot with Julian Strawther at 1.00 points per screen, exactly.

Jokic dominates list of All-Stars

The only other player to appear more than once in the top 10 was Anthony Davis, who had the fifth spot on the list with Max Christie and the ninth spot with D’Angelo Russell. The only other centers who generated more than 1 point per direct screen set for them by any guard were Alperen Sengun and Victor Wembanyama.

This just shows how incredibly dominant the Nuggets' offense is when they just let Jokic run the show. And this stat doesn’t even include screens set by Aaron Gordon, or any of the new offseason additions that will surely lead to several new deadly combinations.

With an open roster spot and an otherwise loaded roster, if a veteran point guard becomes available, there’s no reason for the Nuggets not to strike. But clearly they don’t feel any sense of urgency to fill the role, and if the only options are guys like Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons, they’re likely better off rolling with what they’ve got.