NBA Makes Nikola Jokic Announcement on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Audilet | Last updated May 19, 2025 6:15 PM ET

The No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets fell to the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday, ending yet another outstanding NBA campaign for three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic.

Jokic finished the series averaging 28.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. In Game 7, the superstar center recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

Jokic's postseason ends with 112 total assists, leading the rest of the playoff field by a significant margin. Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton is the next up with 93 assists, followed by New York's Jalen Brunson (92), Denver's Jamal Murray (73) and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (70).

The NBA shared this news with a social media announcement on Monday.

"This week’s #StateFarmAssists Leaderboard! For every assist made on the court, @StateFarm and the NBA will donate $5 to drive assists off the court and improve youth-serving programs during key NBA moments," the league wrote on X.

This week’s #StateFarmAssists Leaderboard!

For every assist made on the court, @StateFarm and the NBA will donate $5 to drive assists off the court and improve youth-serving programs during key NBA moments. pic.twitter.com/ekFAXRHCaZ
— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2025

With the Nuggets' season now over, Jokic will likely be surpassed on this list before a 2024-25 NBA champion is crowned. Haliburton and Brunson are set for a clash in the Eastern Conference finals, and Gilgeous-Alexander will take the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.

Jokic cited a lack of depth as a reason why the Nuggets were unable to get the job done this postseason.

"I think we played for so long in such a way, and it's hard for the guys to step up and especially play against two really good teams, Clippers and OKC," Jokic said. "We cannot ask for somebody who didn't play maybe 20, 30 games to jump in and be good."

Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets needs “the ones who have longer benches and rotations are the ones who are winning.” pic.twitter.com/5kyUo3OgLq
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) May 18, 2025

Jokic is widely expected to finish second in 2024-25 NBA MVP voting behind Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Eastern Conference finals will begin with a Game 1 matchup at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Western Conference finals will tipoff with a Game 1 clash in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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