Nikola Jokic is on pace for one of the best seasons in NBA history

With this victory, Jokic has guided Denver to a 7-3 record and a five-game win streak, propelling them up to fourth place in the Western Conference standings.

This isn’t just a one-off performance from the reigning MVP. Jokic might be on his way to one of the best regular seasons in league history.

If you’re an NBA fan, you already know about Jokic’s greatness. At the 2024 Olympics, he nearly led Serbia to victory over Team USA despite having only Nikola Jovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic and a supporting cast of players who would struggle to make a top college roster. 

Jokic’s blend of size, strength, footwork, touch, IQ and passing makes him the ultimate pick-your-poison player. Guard him one-on-one, and he’ll dismantle your opposing center. Send help, and he’ll dismantle your entire squad. There are no good options.

In the early stages of this season, Jokic has gone nuclear, somehow exceeding his three MVP seasons. His statistics are staggering: he’s leading the league in both rebounding and assists, ranks fourth in scoring and is also fourth in three-point percentage. 

Overall, Jokic is averaging 29.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 11.7 APG while shooting a blistering 56.4% from deep. 

His on/off numbers tell an even more impressive story: the Nuggets outscore opponents by a league-leading 37.4 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court (minimum 15 minutes per game). Simply put, with Jokic at the helm, Denver is dominating.

Jokic has ramped up his post-play this season, averaging a league-high 7.6 touches per game with his back to the basket. He’s been wearing down opposing centers with ease, creating high-percentage scoring opportunities. 

He’s equally dangerous from the elbows, where he leads the league with 9.3 touches per game and is shooting 54.3% from three to 10 feet. And in the clutch? He’s been even more dominant, leading the NBA in crunch-time scoring with 38 points while connecting on 60.0% from three and 57.1% from the field overall.

Jokic has also upped his performance on the less glamorous end. As Yardbarker’s Sai Mohan noted:

“Sunday’s win over Dallas marked his second game with at least three steals and his sixth game with at least two steals through 10 outings. The Serb jokingly referred to himself as the ‘cookie monster’ when asked about his proclivity to come away with steals.”

Like Jokic, legends such as Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant each have a case for the GOAT title. All of them have put together extraordinary regular seasons, yet they played in vastly different eras with unique circumstances, making it nearly impossible to crown any single season as the best ever in the NBA.

That said, it’s safe to say that no one in league history has led the league in both rebounding and assists for an entire season while shooting well over 50% from deep. Jokic’s three-point percentage may dip over time, but if he finishes the year averaging close to a 30-point triple-double while topping the association in rebounds and assists, it will be hard to deny that he had one of the best regular seasons ever.