With the NBA regular season underway for a month, the Western Conference competition is particularly fierce. The Thunder have only lost one of their first 18 games, to the Trail Blazers, and despite the significant absence of their second-leading star, Jayson Tatum, they've maintained a net rating of +16.7 per 100 possessions. The regular season is no longer a challenge for them. Only two teams in the second tier truly pose a threat to the Thunder. The Rockets, since Durant joined the team, boast a top-three ranking in both offensive efficiency and points per game. Interestingly, while the Rockets outscore opponents by only 10 points per 100 possessions when Durant is on the court, they outscore them by 13.2 points per 100 possessions when he's off the court – the Rockets perform better without Durant! The other team, the Nuggets, has Jokic close to an NBA super record.
The Nuggets have won 13 of their first 17 games, but their advanced statistics are impressive: 123.8 points per game, second in the league (only behind the Heat); an offensive efficiency of 124.3, first in the league; and a net rating of +10.0 per 100 possessions, third in the league! Unlike previous seasons, although the Nuggets added Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown, Valanciunas, and Tim Hardaway Jr. to their roster during the offseason, several key players have been sidelined shortly after the start of the new season. First, Kobe Bryant suffered a left ankle sprain after colliding with James Harden in a game against the Clippers, and will likely not be able to undergo a follow-up examination until at least late December. Second, defensive stalwart Eric Gordon suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, similar to his injury during last season's playoffs against the Thunder, meaning he will likely not be able to undergo a follow-up examination until January at the earliest.
While the starters are going down, the team's core remains unchanged, thanks to Nikola Jokic's consistency! This season, Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, recording 10 triple-doubles in 17 games! Jokic has also officially achieved a historic record of eight consecutive seasons with triple-doubles, ranking first in history. Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook, who rank second, have only achieved this feat for five consecutive seasons. The key is that Jokic's triple-double rate this season has reached 58.8%, especially in games where he dished out at least 15 assists, the Nuggets' overall record is a whopping 31 wins and 2 losses, a winning percentage of 94%! Nuggets beat reporter Marreese remarked that Jokic is getting closer and closer to Westbrook's single-season record of 42 triple-doubles, and he's only 31 triple-doubles away from Westbrook's career total!
At this rate, Jokic could break both of these records this season! According to estimates from the American media outlet BR, if Jokic maintains this output, his career triple-double count could potentially surpass 300 (he already has 174)! How many players can play 300 games in their NBA career? How many players can score in double figures 300 times in the NBA? For Jokic, triple-doubles are as easy as drinking water. For example, against the Grizzlies, Jokic only took 9 shots but dished out 16 assists, feeding fringe player Watson to 27 points. Anyone playing alongside Jokic benefits. Including the previous game against the Suns, Jokic took only 8 shots but dished out 15 assists, with 7 players on his team scoring in double figures.
Jokic didn't even need to take a shot. This is Jokic's strength; in high-level games or when the team needs him to explode, he can definitely step up, such as his 55 points against the Clippers and 44 points against the Kings (though they were ultimately defeated by Westbrook's team). However, often the Nuggets struggle when Jokic scores high. As one of the league's best centers, Jokic has developed himself into a versatile player, capable of providing whatever the team needs. His PER this season is an astonishing 36.7, a level unmatched in the NBA and even in history! Simply put, with Jokic on the court, the Nuggets' regular season floor is very high, essentially a top-three team in the Western Conference! During the offseason, Jokic rejected the Nuggets' 3-year, $212 million contract extension offer.
According to salary regulations, Jokic has three years remaining on his current contract, worth $55.22 million this season, with $59.03 million and $62.84 million (player option) for the next two seasons respectively. Next summer, Jokic can sign a four-year, $293 million supermax extension with the Nuggets. The first year of the new contract will override his existing player option. This means that besides this season's $55 million, Jokic has essentially secured a five-year, $350 million supermax contract! His impressive stats, exceptional ability to lead his team to a high floor, and another easily overlooked point is that Jokic is virtually injury-free, boasting a career attendance rate of 92%! Only in the 2022-23 season did he play fewer than 70 games (69 games), because the Nuggets secured the top seed in the West early that season, and Jokic managed his load, allowing Embiid to win the MVP.
It's almost certain that the MVP race this season will still be dominated by Jokic and Alexander. And in the playoffs, the Nuggets will definitely be one of the few teams in the West that can truly threaten the Thunder. Last season in the playoffs, the Nuggets had six players capable of playing (only Westbrook was reliable off the bench), and four more were playing through injuries, battling all the way to Game 7 and giving it their all. This season is different. The Nuggets have more immediate impact, and Jokic won't be playing at his best during the regular season, but that's precisely why he's worth a $350 million max contract! When healthy, Jokic is arguably the best player in the league!
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