Nikola Jokic is currently on pace for a historic season averaging 27.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, and 10.8 APG. He has the potential to join Wilt Chamberlain as the only center to ever average a triple-double for an entire season. However, a dark cloud has formed over the scorekeepers in Denver. As one viral tweet has set the NBA world on fire, turning a legendary season into a statistical investigation.
For those who are unaware, this video has gone viral, in some fans eyes this serves as evidence. This video highlights plays where Jamal Murray dribbles multiple times before scoring, sometimes even pump or head faking before making the basket. Which according to the NBA rules is NOT an immediate action towards the basket. Critics suggest these are some key plays to indicate Denver’s scorekeepers inflating Jokic’s assist numbers to keep his average above 10.0 APG. This has created a debate over the legitimacy of his stats compared to “traditional” standards.
The Timing of this “stat padding” is what makes it feel manufactured. In mid-March, Joker’s assist average was sliding dangerously close to 9.9 APG. The game he could potentially fall under the triple-double threshold, he handed out a 19-assist masterclass against the Mavericks on March 25th.
Critics have argued that those “generous” assists were a manual override to keep his MVP case alive. Now whether the data backs these claims up or not, the optics alone of “fixing” numbers right as they were about to fall under the double-digit threshold, this has given those critics all the ammunition they need. In a tight race, any hint of “fake” production is a dealbreaker for voters.
Whether those scorekeepers had malicious intent or not, even if Jokic finishes with a triple double. It now carries an asterisk in the eyes of some fans-lumping it in with Kevin Durant’s stint with the Warriors or the 2020 Bubble Championship. Fair or not, this label could follow Jokic’s legacy forever and that is the unfair part to the Joker.
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