Nikola Jokic. The name alone evokes a certain emotion that basketball enthusiasts like myself can’t describe.
Probably because Jokic is an unlikely superhero with a hell of an origin story. Drafted during a Taco Bell commercial in 2014, this Gru-lookin’ Serbian enjoys horse racing more than basketball. I think he celebrates more when his horse wins than he did following the 2024 NBA Finals.
He also happens to be pretty damn good at the game of basketball.
Jokic was blessed with an uncanny hooping ability. He sees the floor as a playmaking savant, has finesse post moves that harken back to the days of Hakeem Olajuwon, can shoot threes, rebound–hell, he can probably save the galaxy in Space Jam 3 if he so chooses to.
The Joker’s been a consistent stat stuffer since his breakout season in 2018. Triple-doubles are almost nightly guarantees at this point. 2026 has been no different. Jokic has 28 PPG, 13 boards, and 11 assists as the season winds down to a close, but the stat I’m most interested in?
Win-share. The determining factor in whether a player is actively helping his team win or not.
Jokic has 14 wins added for the Nuggets this year. Not only is he a frontrunner for the MVP, but he’s been the driving force for a Denver team hellbent on winning the Finals in 2026.
At 31 years old, it’s hard to argue Jokic is nearing the end of his peak. The Joker can easily put up another 4-5 seasons of sheer dominance until he starts regressing. He might be out of the league at that point.
Two things stand in the way of Joker’s longevity: horse racing and Denver’s success.
The first is Jokic’s primary passion. He’d rather be with his stallions than on an NBA court. That’s not a dig at his passion for the game, but he’s been around horses longer than he’s been in the NBA.
It’s sort of like Michael Jordan’s hiatus from basketball to pursue a…”career” in Major League Baseball. After Jordan’s father died, he honored his father’s legacy by swapping a finger-roll for a strikeout.
Sorry, I had to.
But Jokic’s emotional attachment to horses is stronger than it is to the game of basketball. And there’s nothing wrong with that–except this is an NBA article and not about Serbian horse racing.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The Nuggets have been consistent Western Conference juggernauts for the past five years. But Jokic isn’t getting any younger, and there’s a 7-foot behemoth from France hot on his heels to be the league’s best player.
The talent level in the NBA is the best it’s ever been. Screw the oldheads talking about “Anthony Edwards couldn’t score two points in my day” because it’s a different game from the days of Michael Jordan. League parity is steadily increasing with the emergence of stars like Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham.
The more talent a league has, the less likely a team is to get back to the Finals.
Jokic has gone on record saying he “just wants to win” games and, for what it’s worth, Denver’s won a lot during the regular season.
“Aries in his many fits knows no favorites.“
Homer, The Odyssey
The Western Conference is loaded this year.
SGA and the OKC Thunder are trying to repeat as champions. Wembanyama’s trying to bring the Spurs back to another golden era of San Antonio success. The Houston Rockets paired with Kevin Durant this past offseason, and who can forget LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers? Try saying that three times fast.
The Nuggets are currently the #3 seed behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio, respectively. Denver’s most recent contests against them were absolute dogfights. On March 9, the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Nuggets by three points in a heavyweight regular-season matchup. An April 4th game against San Antonio had Jokic and Wemby combining for 74 points.
If those two games are any indication, a 7-game series between one or both could seriously tax Jokic and the Nuggets. I suppose that’s what the playoffs are all about, but what happens when they face the Boston Celtics with a fresh and healthy Jayson Tatum?
Not all of it falls on The Joker’s god-like performances. The Nuggets need to rely on the likes of Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and the occasional splash from Christian Braun. Murray’s chronic struggles with consistency have seriously hampered Denver’s postseason chances. Gordon works as a second option but lacks Murray’s ability to be an offensive catalyst.
If Oklahoma City puts Alex Caruso on Jokic again, Denver’s offensive pieces really need to shine. Offseason additions Tim Hardaway Jr. (13.5 PPG) and Cameron Johnson (12.2 PPG) have been integral in Denver’s continued success in 2026. As of April 9, the Jokic-led Nuggets have 10 consecutive wins. A first in his career.
In eight years of dominance, Nikola Jokic needs another championship to cement his legacy. This year should be now-or-never for the Denver Nuggets.
Think about it. If Jokic can overcome the juggernauts of the Western Conference, I genuinely believe he could sneak his way into Top 5 GOAT conversation if he isn’t already. Dirk Nowitzki did more with less against Miami’s Big Three in 2011, so my confidence in Jokic and the Nuggets is quite high.
As long as he doesn’t make Space Jam 3, I think we’ll be okay.
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