Nikola Jokic has now made back to back All-NBA Teams. Last season, he was on the All-NBA First Team and now has made the All-NBA Second Team. On top of this, the Joker has also led the Denver Nuggets to some insane NBA history. If you do not pay much attention to basketball, or have been living under a rock, Jokic has had a big part in leading Denver from 3-1 down in back to back postseason series.
No other team in NBA history has pulled off this sort of feat. Jokic had an impressive performance in game seven against the Clippers where he recorded a 22-rebound triple-double. With all of this in mind, it is clear that Jokic is the best center in the NBA, not that there was much debate when it comes to the center conversation.
Nikola Jokic, the Best Center in the NBA
Joker vs. the Process
Let’s take a look at Jokic compared to the big man in Philadelphia. The one and only Joel Embiid. Embiid is the better scorer as he has a career scoring average of 23.9 points whereas Jokic has tallied 17.0 points per game for his career. In almost every other aspect, Jokic has the advantage. Joker has a better assists average (5.5 compared to 3.1), and a better true shooting percentage (60.4 percent compared to 58.5 percent).
Not to mention, Jokic has made his mark in the playoffs in just two postseason appearances. Embiid has had a plethora of playoff controversies and shortcomings. Instances such as getting swept in the first round this season and getting caught along with Amir Johnson looking at a phone while on the bench during last season’s postseason. Jokic on the other hand has continually gotten better in the playoffs and is now headed to the Western Conference Finals.
Joker vs. Kat
Karl-Anthony Towns is in the same stratosphere as Jokic when it comes to offensive capabilities. He can stretch the floor, put the ball on the floor, and has a ton of athleticism. However, Towns still has a ways to go before he is on Jokic’s level as a big. Towns has averaged 22.7 points for his career and does come close to Jokic’s assists totals with an average of 4.4. However, Towns has only made the playoffs once. However, Jimmy Butler had a lot to do with that. During the said postseason, KAT and his team had a difficult time against the Houston Rockets which resulted in a first-round loss. With all of that in mind, Nikola Jokic is still the better center.
Conclusion
Nikola Jokic has officially surpassed all of the elite big men in the league with his recent playoff performance. As alluded to already, Jokic has helped the Nuggets, along with his co-star Jamal Murray, make NBA playoff history. The Nuggets are just one more round away from their first-ever NBA Finals appearance and if Jokic continues the way he has played in the first two rounds, then Denver’s chances are extremely good. He and Murray will be key against the Los Angeles Lakers and very well could be immortalized in Denver Nuggets’ history.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images