Nikola Jokic continues to bloat the stat sheet, now becoming proficient in the quadruple-double: scoring, rebounding, passing and yelling. What’s going on with the NBA’s best player? I got pushback when for the roster construction in early November and again last week when . One thing is clear: It is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore Jokic’s frustration with his teammates, with the losses, with the wild inconsistency of the 16-12 start.
Jokic showed his emotions on multiple occasions during a . The NBA attempted to straight-arm the NFL for relevance with terrific early games, including a Steph Curry-LeBron James classic. Then the Nuggets decided to disappear defensively midway through the fourth quarter of their nightcap.
What could have been a fourth straight win instead became another reason to question the makeup of this team after the Suns pulled away with an 11-0 run. Three themes continue to linger 35% of the way through this season: a simmering Jokic, a disappointing Jamal Murray and an unserious bench. First, there is Jokic.
He is playing the best basketball of his career, adding DNA accuracy from the 3-point line to his repertoire. He ranks second in points (30.7), and third in rebounds (12.
4) and assists (9.4). He is not immune to criticism, as he had defensive issues and lapses through the first two months.
But he is not the problem. It is everything around him. And he has verbalized this more than at any other point in his career.
Even if you hit th.