Meet Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets' Next International Gem at Center
Get ready for another infusion of European brilliance, Denver Nuggets fans.
After the arrival of Bosnian bruiser Jusuf Nurkic and French import Joffrey Lauvergne last season, the club has another asset poised to cross the Atlantic and make his mark on the NBA.
Serbian big man Nikola Jokic, whom the Nuggets picked 41st in the 2014 draft, recently indicated that he's leaving his Adriatic League team Mega Vizura and joining Denver this summer.
The 6'11" pivot man is coming off a phenomenal 2014-15 campaign, and in many ways, he's well-prepared for the NBA. How does Jokic fit with this current Nuggets bunch, including bigs like Nurkic, and what can we expect from him in the short and long term?
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | |
| Per Game | 16.5 | 9.7 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .525 | .326 | .691 |
| Per 40 Min | 22.4 | 13.1 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | .525 | .326 | .691 |
The most impressive thing about his game is his basketball IQ. Whereas players like Nurkic and Kenneth Faried have leaned heavily on their physical prowess early in their careers, Jokic can rely on smarts and savvy.
He's only 20 years old, but Jokic has an awareness and feel for the game that surpass the vast majority of his peers. It's something that stood out at the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit, and he's only become cagier since then. This acute command of the game's flow has enabled him to shine in the Adriatic League and earn four Round MVP awards (similar to player of the week) this season.
In pick-and-roll scenarios, the Serbian star displays terrific timing when diving to the rim, and he has a great perception of where he is in relation to the defense.
Similarly, Jokic is adept at manipulating opponents from the high post, where he routinely catches and dishes to cutters. He posted 3.2 assists per game (4.3 per 40 minutes), which is magnificent for a frontcourt player these days. In comparison, highly coveted Latvian prospect Kristaps Porzingis is dishing out just 0.5 per game and 1.0 per 40 minutes.
Jokic also demonstrates sharp intelligence away from the ball, where he drifts to open shooting pockets or cuts to the rim for high-percentage looks. He also has a great nose for the ball as a rebounder, helping him gobble up 13-plus boards per 40 minutes.
Lastly, his smarts help him on defense. While Jokic doesn't have above-average athleticism, he maximizes his modest tools by sliding in perfect position on every possession whether he's on the strong or help side.
Jokic's ball skills are also more advanced than most 20-year-old prospects. He demonstrates fluidity in the post and on the perimeter, exhibiting a soft touch and the ability to turn over either shoulder.
In the post, Jokic does a superb job of counteracting the pressure challengers apply. He's able to spin around overzealous defenders and hit hook shots as well as foil opponents with pump fakes and scoop shots. In the NBA, he'll be able to create offense for himself and teammates because he knows how to use angles and timing.
Although Jokic spent most of his time at center for Mega Leks, he shows the tangible versatility to also play power forward.
Jokic owns a smooth shooting stroke for a 6'11" player. While he hasn't shot three-pointers too efficiently this year, he clearly has the potential to space the floor and connect from the NBA arc in the future.
Luka Bassin, assistant coach of Slovenian club Union Olimpija, sees Jokic as a combo big moving forward:
"Nikola has many offensive weapons, including pick/pop game and long-distance shooting," Bassin told Nuggets.com. "He's really a stretch 5 who can play both the 4 and 5 positions."
Jokic isn't quick or shifty enough to slash and break down NBA-caliber opponents from the wing, but his handles are more than polished enough to maneuver in the open floor. On several occasions, he took the ball coast-to-coast for Mega Vizura and created some pretty plays.
Although Jokic's ball skills and instincts will give him a role, his lack of explosiveness will limit his production and ceiling. He'll be a below-average athlete in the NBA, which will affect his game in a couple of areas.
It will be tough for him to finish over the elite leapers in the league because he'll face tougher angles on jump hooks and putbacks.
On the other end of the floor, Jokic will struggle to contain drivers one-on-one and challenge shots above the rim. Jokic won't let down his teammates in help-side scenarios, but he'll sporadically get exposed in isolation. He also won't snag as many rebounds as he did in Europe.
How does all of this translate to the Nuggets?
Firstly, Jokic will streamline the offense with his feel for the game, giving it a craftiness the energy guys don't possess in abundance.
He will operate seamlessly on offense next to Denver's 4s or 5s. Jokic could play a finesse stretch 4 style alongside power bigs like Nurkic and J.J. Hickson, and he could also be an inside-out center next to forwards like Faried.
Harrison Wind of BSNDenver.com predicts Jokic will have an immediate impact due to his skill set and awareness:
"Jokic undoubtedly has the shot and basketball IQ to be a role player his rookie season in an uptempo Denver offense that will play to his strengths."
The defensive side is a much bigger question mark. Jokic has enough mobility and length to play respectably at the 5 spot, but he'll be in trouble if he has to chase rangy, athletic 4s. There's legitimate reason to doubt he and Nurkic can thrive together defensively because they're both below-the-rim athletes.
Nevertheless, there's certainly a significant role for him in the league because of his size and multifaceted skills.
His comparison looks like a blend of Boris Diaw and Andrea Bargnani. Jokic will attack off the bounce, compete and collaborate wonderfully with his teammates like Diaw, and he also has the length and shooting talent of Bargnani. If he embodies the best attributes from each of them, that's not shabby at all. If he takes the worst from each, things could get ugly.
Remember, Denver scooped him up at No. 41 overall. If the Nuggets implement Jokic appropriately, he could blossom into one of the best second-round steals in recent years.
Dan O'Brien covers the NBA Draft for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
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