Nikola Jokic is trying to put the Denver Nuggets on his back, but the lack of a supporting cast has slowed them down.
With three games left on their schedule, it’s possible that the Denver Nuggets will miss the postseason and will have to fight their way through the Play-In Tournament. They have lost their last four games, and have tough contests against the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets on their schedule.
Denver has been without Jamal Murray for the last five games, but seemingly no one has stepped up to take his place.
Over the losing streak, Nikola Jokic has averaged 45 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. He became the third player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double, amassed in a double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
His individual greatness, compounded with the Nuggets’ lack of team success, is scarcely reminiscent of a recent stretch of baseball by the Los Angeles Angels.
Jokic can be compared to Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout
From 2018-2022, the Angels boasted the two best MLB players alive. In that span, Mike Trout made five All-Star Games and won MVP, and Shohei Ohtani emerged as one of the best batters and pitchers in the game, winning Rookie of the Year and two MVPs of his own.
The Angels never made the postseason and never finished with more than 80 wins during that span, prompting one of the most well-known sports social media posts of all time.
While the Nuggets likely will make the postseason this year, Nikola Jokic is playing well-rounded basketball that can only be compared to Ohtani’s efforts, and his long span of dominance is similar to Trout’s.
Although there is one key difference, Nikola Jokic has a ring to show for it.
While a four-game losing streak is not truly comparable to five subpar MLB seasons, the fact that Jokic, night in and night out, is doing all he can to win games without team support is eerily similar.
Denver’s supporting cast hasn’t lived up to par
During their Finals run in 2023, the Nuggets made the most of their lack of star power. Jokic was the only All-Star level player, although Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Murray all filled their roles perfectly.
During the recent stretch, Denver hasn’t been able to rely on their secondary and tertiary options, causing a freefall.
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3PT% |
| Jokic | 40.5 | 12.8 | 9.5 | 58.8% | 41.2% |
| Gordon | 14.0 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 53.1% | 38.5% |
| Porter Jr. | 19.3 | 6.3 | 3.3 | 56.4% | 34.8% |
| Westbrook | 16.0 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 44.6% | 28.6% |
| Braun | 20.0 | 7.8 | 3.5 | 64.2% | 42.9% |
Thanks to injuries and rest, the volume stats (points, rebounds, assists) are actually better than average, although, aside from Christian Braun, the shooting percentages leave a lot to be desired, and Denver has suffered from untimely turnovers in recent games.
Denver is only a half-game ahead of the last spot in the Play-In Tournament, and if the current trend continues, they will make the Play-In and have to fight just for the right to match up against the Oklahoma City Thunder or Houston Rockets in the first round.
Denver is .500 against both the Rockets and Thunder this season, but both of those teams have the depth to steamroll them in a seven-game series unless Denver can turn things around in their final week of the regular season.
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