Nikola Jokic made one huge change in his game this season and no one noticed
With everything records that Nikola Jokić breaks every seasonit’s easy to understand why so many people take his talents for granted. In 36 games played this season, he is averaging career highs in points, assists, steals, minutes, free throws attempted, 3-point attempts and 3-point percentage.
Given how Denver Nuggets has played this season, the jump in some of his stats shouldn’t be surprising. after all, Jokic is also a three-time NBA MVP before entering its climax. However, the jump in his 3-point attempts and 3-point percentage is a bit odd.
Nikola Jokic never averaged more than four three-pointers
Compared to the 2023-2024 season, Jokic averaged just 2.9 three-point attempts per game. This season? He shoots almost twice as much at 4.6. For context, the most 3-pointers Jokic has ever attempted in a season was 280 when he played 75 games in 2017-18. It’s only halfway through the season and he’s already attempted 153, which means he’s on track to hit around 300.
Some argue that Jokic is simply adapting his game to today’s NBA. Meanwhile, others think he’s choosing to conserve his energy instead of trying to post for 40 minutes. A solid argument considering the Nuggets offensive rating goes down from 120.1 to 110.6 whenever he is off the court; an offensive rating that is good for 5th worst in the NBA.
Related Denver Nuggets NewsThe article continues below
This may be the first time Jokic can lead the league with a 3 PT%.
Of all players to attempt at least 100 3-pointers this season, Jokic has the highest percentage of them all (at the time of writing), 47.1%. A surprising percentage considering that he also attempts the most 3-pointers in a season for his career. Still, that percentage is higher than that of Steph Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson this season, who are four of the top five leaders in three-pointers in NBA history.
If he can maintain that percentage for the rest of the season, and it seems more than likely he will, it would also be the first time he’s finished the season shooting over 40% from beyond the arc.
So, just when you thought the Joker couldn’t get any better, he pulls another trick up his sleeve.
2025-01-21 13:07:00
