LeBron James vs Nikola Jokic NBA Playoffs Stats, Records and More Explored

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic will go head-to-head in the NBA playoffs for the third time in five years. The LA Lakers won the 2020 Western Conference Finals matchup in five games. The Denver Nuggets avenged that in the 2023 Western Conference rivals, one-upping LA's feat after closing the series in four games.

James and Jokic's anchoring their respective teams will dictate the series. They will be the primary decision-makers with the ball in their hands for most of the series. Here's how the two matched up in their previous NBA playoffs duels:

LeBron James vs. Nikola Jokic NBA Playoffs Stats and Records explored

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic have had solid postseason careers. James, a 21-year veteran, obviously has more experience and success with a longer career than Jokic. The Lakers star has made the NBA playoffs 16 times, while Jokic has been in the postseason five years.

In an NBA record 282 playoff games, James has averaged 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists on 50/33/74 splits. Meanwhile, Jokic has managed 27.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 7.3 apg in 68 games.

The former MVPs have squared off in the playoffs in two series before, playing nine games. While they are tied in the series win/loss record with one win each, Jokic edges James with a 5-4 record for games won.

Here's how James and Jokic's head-to-head NBA playoffs stats have compared:

Player	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	FG%	3-PT FG%	FT%	MPG
LeBron James	27.3	10.0	9.4	1.0	0.8	2.9	52.8%	27.7%	77.0%	39.2
Nikola Jokic	24.4	10.4	8.0	1.7	0.8	3.1	51.9%	41.9%	81.1%	37.1

Why Nikola Jokic and Co should be worried about LeBron James and Lakers

The Denver Nuggets have beaten the LA Lakers in their past eight meetings, including the 2023 NBA playoffs. The Nuggets have countered everything the Lakers threw at them. LA got outcoached, outmatched and outplayed, especially in the clutch.

As expected, the Nuggets are the overwhelming favorites to win. However, a crucial LeBron James factor should concern Nikola Jokic and Co. When the teams last played, James and the Lakers were coming off a brutal stretch after playing at a playoff-caliber intensity for two months to climb out of the lottery seeds.

The Lakers had another intense regular season finish this year. However, it was over the past two weeks or so. Moreover, James was healthier than he was back then. He was nursing a foot injury that could have ruled him out for the rest of the year.

The Lakers also came off two grueling series against the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. They begin their playoffs with fresher legs against the Nuggets. That aids LeBron James and Anthony Davis more than anyone, who impose physicality on their opponents to create a matchup advantage.

While LA might have their defensive issues against Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic's two-man game, a healthy LeBron and AD can pose a similar threat to the Nuggets' defense.