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Nikola Jokic has shown everyone the new possibilities for a center and how evolved his game can be by winning the 2020-21 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
The role of centers in the NBA has been heavily downplayed over the years in the media by scouts and analysts. They had claimed that the center position was drawing to its end, except players in that position began to stop threes from going in.
The following are ways he has changed the center position for the future generation of NBA players.
Ways in which Nikola Jokic has changed the center position
Emphasis on passing
One of the ways in which Jokic has elevated the role of the center is by his love for finding his teammates on the floor. He has led his team in assists every season for the past four seasons and is the best passing big man in NBA history with 6.0 assists per game with his famous no-look pass, surpassing Chamberlain's record of 4.4 assists per game.
Jokic was the third-best leader in assists in the 2020-21 NBA season, with Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook recording more. He was the 7th in the league in the 2019-20 season, but another amazing thing to note is that he was the only center amongst the top 20 in both seasons.
When asked about the big man's passing game, his teammate Jamal Murray had this to say.
“His passing is what makes him so different from everybody else,” Jamal Murray said. "His, not just willingness to pass, but like he wants to pass. He wants to find you. He wants to look this way and throw it that way. That’s the beauty he finds in the game. And at the same time if you leave him on the island he can score. Such a tough cover.”
Good shooting accuracy
Nothing much was expected from the Denver Nuggets' 41st overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft; little did they know they had hit a gold mine. The 20-year-old rookie could score, as he registered 10.0 points with a field goal accuracy of 51.2% in his debut season in the NBA.
Since his second season (2016-17) to date, the Joker has been on a steady growth trajectory. He has led the Nuggets in points every season for the past five seasons. In the 2020-21 NBA season, he led the team in field goals and recorded a field goal accuracy of 56.6%.
No team wants Jokic on their end of the court unmarked, but then again in a game against the Chicago Bulls last season, Jokic had three players on him when he put up 39 points to help the Nuggets make a comeback. He is unstoppable and can shoot over anyone in the league.
He finished the 2020-21 NBA season ranked as the 3rd best leader in scoring, behind Damian Lillard and Steph Curry.
A hardcore team player
Jokic is known to be a very good team player, always looking to elevate his team with that next play. His gameplay has always been hinged on getting his teammates involved even though he can take over the game at will if he wants to, thereby making his teammates look good.
On multiple occasions, he has always been found to always deflect when the spotlight is shone on him to highlight his multiple achievements, to it being the team's effort.
The 3-time All-Star player is the second center in NBA history since Wilt Chamberlain to record a 50-career triple-double and the ninth player in all positions, whilst being the 3rd fastest player to attain the feat. But all of these don't mean much to him as he believes strongly that he is nothing without the team.
He is constantly improving his game and we have not seen the best of him yet.
Guess the Lakers players!
