Jokic dominates ‘playoffs’ with unique style, silences critics and takes Denver to the top of the NBA – 06/13/2023 – Sports

Elected best player in the NBA in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, Nikola Jokic was in the fight to take the “MVP” award again. There were then heated discussions in the US media, with insinuations that the Serb was favored by journalists in the vote because he was white.

The debate today seems silly. With his unique style, the pivot who plays as a point guard had spectacular performances in the “playoffs” of the North American Basketball League and led the Denver Nuggets in winning their first title, confirmed on Monday night (12) in a victory by 94 to 89 over the Miami Heat.

Jokic, 28, was not MVP of the year. He lost to Joel Embiid of Cameroon, a center who, in a constant battle with physical problems, was unable to take the Philadelphia 76ers beyond the semifinals of the Eastern Conference. But Nikola was unanimously chosen as the best in the final, which closed at a comfortable 4-1.

“It’s an amazing feeling. There’s a good feeling when you know you’ve done something that nobody believes in,” he said.

The Serb proved to be a nightmare for the defenses faced by the Nuggets, who dispatched Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1), Phoenix Suns (4-2) and Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) with relative ease. In the decision, Miami, managed by the great Erik Spoelstra, also did not find effective answers for their game.

The Joker, as they call him, is an out-of-NBA ace, a chubby kid who made it to the league only as the 41st pick in the 2014 rookie draft draft. he remains slow relative to most opponents and has limited momentum.

Good luck trying to stop it.

With individual tagging, the 2.11 m and 129 kg athlete uses his strong body to push rivals out of the way and reach the basket. He has a good long range shot. If the marker leaves the paint to contain this weapon, he uses hesitations and throwing threats to approach the rim and finish with hooks and “floaters” that are difficult to contest.

If the score is double, the opponents’ lives seem to be even worse. The Serb is already considered almost unanimously as the pivot with the best pass in the history of basketball. With two on top of him, there’s some free mate, cleverly found.

On the way to the trophy, Jokic had an average of 9.5 assists per game in the knockout stage. There were 30 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. With great input from colleagues, especially Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, and good direction from coach Michael Malone, he lifted a trophy that didn’t depend on any voter.

“Nikola has led us all through the playoffs, passing in some games, scoring in others,” said forward Michael Porter Junior. “It was a historic run. I don’t know how anyone can say he’s not the greatest center in history, actually. He IS one of the greatest basketball players of all time, I don’t care what anyone says.”

The Serbian’s greatest difficulties were in defense, against faster rivals. His work against the light trap game was particularly problematic. He is still not exactly an elite scorer, but he has made noticeable progress in that part of the court, compensating for physical limitations with intelligence and instinct – in Game 4 of the final alone, he had seven deflections on passes from the Heat.

“I arrived at the age of 20. If you want to be successful, you need a few years. You need to be bad. Then you need to be good. Then, when you are good, you need to fail. When you fail, you will understand what it takes. There is steps that need to be taken, no shortcuts. It’s a journey, and I’m happy to be part of that journey,” said Jokic.

Out of the norm also in behavior, he is far from the talkative style of NBA superstars. If he isn’t quite like Tim Duncan –who was five-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs and is almost always silent, without major variations in facial expression–, he keeps his distance from teasing opponents and self-praise.

These are frequent in the mouth of Joel Embiid, who saw the final at home. Jokic, smiling, quietly lifted the trophy that mattered most.