When Deni Avdija was asked which NBA player gives him the most trouble, he didn’t have to think long before landing on Nikola Jokic.
The Portland Trail Blazers forward broke down what makes the Denver Nuggets star such a nightmare on a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show. “Trying to think who gave me trouble.
You know, every time I switch on to Jokic, I'm like, 'What the hell am I supposed to do?' I'm strong, but this guy is strong and smart, and can pass.
And he has the touch floater from every angle. I think he is the toughest cover, because usually I don't guard him one-on-one too,” Avdija said.
"... There's no other [player like him].
Like, for me, I think it's him."
Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green, who knows a thing or two about elite defenders and elite offenses, agreed without hesitation. “He is the toughest cover in the league for sure. I mean, that I have to face.”
That kind of praise is hardly new for Jokic. The 6-foot-11 center has built his reputation on being the league’s most complete offensive weapon - a passer who sees plays before they happen, a shooter from deep and the mid-range, a post scorer with polished footwork, and a player who can punish defenses in a hundred different ways.
And the numbers from last season back up the eye test. Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
He also became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists in the same season. He likely would have won MVP again if he hadn’t dropped behind during the longest injury absence of his career.
That’s where the next layer of the conversation comes in. Jokic already has plenty on his résumé, and he doesn’t exactly need another MVP to validate what he’s done. But if he stays healthy, keeps producing at the same level, and pushes the Nuggets through another strong season, a fourth career MVP is absolutely in play.
The 31-year-old is still right in the middle of his prime, and the early signs have already shown the same old problem for defenders: Jokic keeps making them look helpless. In a preseason victory, he logged a triple-double in just three quarters, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
For now, the league seems to be saying the same thing Avdija and Green did: Nikola Jokic is still the toughest assignment in basketball. And with a Wednesday night preseason matchup against the L.A. Clippers on the schedule, unless the Nuggets choose to rest him, there may be another chance to watch that problem unfold in real time.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Is Putting A Real Nuggets Rotation Decision On The Table
Christian Braun entered preseason with a real chance to solidify his standing in the Nuggets rotation, but the early returns have made things more complicated. Through Denvers exhibition slate, Braun has struggled to find a rhythm, putting up just 4.3 points while shooting well below his usual standard and having trouble on the defensive end. For a team that leans on continuity and clear roles, even a short preseason slump can matter when the minutes at the wing are already a point of discussion.
Julian Strawther has given the staff more to consider on the offensive side, while Alpha Diallo has made a case with his defense, creating a bit of pressure on a spot Braun had seemed positioned to keep. None of that changes what Braun has meant to the Nuggets, but it does mean his hold on his current role is no longer completely settled. If the regular season begins the way preseason has gone, Denver may have to decide whether to ride through the rough patch or start adjusting the rotation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Bench Battle Just Created A Tough Rotation Decision
Michael Malone is using the preseason to sort out the Nuggets secondary rotation, and the goal is fairly clear: build a dependable 10-man group that lets the starters and the bench operate cleanly. Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, DeMar DeRozan, and Spencer Jones have already carved out defined roles, which has sharpened the focus on the last remaining spot and made every minute in camp matter a little more.
Alpha Diallo and Julian Strawther are the two names still pushing for that opening, and both have made a case in different ways. Diallo has brought defensive versatility, while Strawther has answered with three-point shooting, leaving Denver with a familiar preseason dilemma: deciding whether the final bench chair should go to the player who changes the game with stops or the one who stretches the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found A New Edge Teams Wont Enjoy Facing
The Nuggets have started preseason with a familiar kind of advantage, and it is one opponents tend to notice quickly. Denver has gotten to the line at a much higher rate in its recent games, including 46 free throws against the Bulls and 42 against the Jazz, a sign that the rosters size and physical approach are already showing up the way coach David Adelman likes.
Bryce Hopkins has been part of that early edge, bringing a bruising style that helps put defenders in foul trouble. The next step is making the most of those trips, especially with bench players still working to clean up their free throw shooting. If Denver can keep forcing whistles and turn those chances into points, it could add another layer to an offense that already makes life hard for opposing teams. [Read more 🡒]