Have We Stopped Appreciating Nikola Jokic’s Greatness?
Key Takeaways:
- Normalization of Greatness: Nikola Jokic’s consistent excellence has led to his extraordinary performances being treated as routine.
- Quiet Dominance: While other teams make splashy moves and generate headlines, the Denver Nuggets, led by Jokic, quietly improve and contend.
- Voter Fatigue & Narrative Shift: The media and fans often chase new narratives, causing established players like Jokic to fade into the background despite their sustained dominance.
- Team-First Approach: Jokic’s unselfish play and team-oriented approach contribute to the Nuggets’ success but may also diminish individual attention.
- Nuggets’ Understated Improvements: Denver’s strategic offseason moves, including bringing back familiar faces and addressing depth issues, are often overlooked.
For a time, every Nikola Jokic triple-double made headlines. Now, it’s commonplace. Through the first seven games of the season, Jokic recorded five triple-doubles, a feat that would be celebrated for nearly any other player. But for Jokic, it barely registers, illustrated by the muted reaction to his 33-point, 15-rebound, and 16-assist performance against the Miami Heat. This raises a critical question: have we started taking Nikola Jokic’s brilliance for granted?
In a league driven by captivating narratives, Jokic has become almost background noise. Attention is drawn to the rise of Oklahoma City, Victor Wembanyama’s emergence, Luka Doncic’s scoring prowess, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s renewed MVP bid. Amidst all of that, Jokic continues to perform at a level that would define other players’ careers, but is somehow considered business as usual. This might be the curse of consistency. Jokic has maintained an MVP-caliber performance for six straight years, making extraordinary basketball look effortless. His greatness has lost its novelty, and an average Jokic statline is viewed as 25-12-12.
Jokic’s game lacks conventional flash. He doesn’t soar above defenders or demand attention. Instead, he dissects opponents with precision, manipulating angles, finding shooters, and exploiting defensive weaknesses. He makes the most difficult parts of basketball seem like second nature. No one in NBA history has combined Jokic’s scoring efficiency, playmaking creativity, and rebounding control. His blend of power, patience, vision, and touch feels unique. However, it doesn’t dominate the discussion as it once did.
‘Voter fatigue’ may have caught up with Jokic. When a player sustains greatness for so long, the conversation naturally shifts. The media and fans often chase new narratives, stars, and sensations. Jokic, having performed at an elite level for years, no longer fits the "breaking news" mold. He’s still the best player in basketball and, since 2019, has averaged roughly 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists per game while leading the Denver Nuggets to sustained success, including the 2023 NBA Championship. We’ve normalized his greatness to the point where we no longer fully appreciate it. It’s not that Jokic has gotten worse; it’s that everything else has gotten louder.
Part of the reason Jokic’s brilliance goes unnoticed is the Nuggets’ understated offseason. While other teams made high-profile moves, Denver operated with precision. They brought back Bruce Brown, a key piece of their 2023 title run, to reestablish their defensive edge and chemistry. Brown’s connection with Jokic is instinctive. The Nuggets also traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson. While it may seem like a downgrade in talent, it could be an upgrade in fit. Johnson’s spacing, unselfishness, and commitment to role-playing complement Jokic’s system.
Denver also addressed their need for a dependable backup center with the addition of Jonas Valanciunas. As a bruising interior presence and elite screener, Valanciunas helps Denver stay afloat when Jokic sits. Crucially, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are healthy, completing Denver’s identity. Murray’s two-man game with Jokic is one of the most unstoppable in basketball, while Gordon’s cutting, defense, and athleticism balance the Nuggets on both ends.
Head coach David Adelman has done an exceptional job keeping the Nuggets grounded and disciplined. His defensive tweaks and trust in player development have kept Denver sharp despite roster transitions. Adelman has embraced what makes Jokic special: freedom within a framework. Denver plays through Jokic at all times, but it never feels forced. While teams like the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Rockets dominate headlines, the Nuggets are quietly creeping back into the Western Conference’s top tier.
The normalization of the extraordinary might be the price of sustained brilliance – to be so consistently excellent that the world stops noticing. History will remember what the present often overlooks. Jokic is reshaping what we thought possible for a big man. One day, we’ll realize these seasons weren’t normal; they were masterpieces hiding in plain sight. Nikola Jokic hasn’t fallen off – if anything, he’s still climbing. It’s the rest of us who’ve forgotten to look up.
