The Denver Nuggets have a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers, and they’re closer than ever to reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Superstar center and two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic is leading the way, and he has had triple-doubles in both of the first two games of this series.
He has 395 points, 179 rebounds, and 133 assists so far in the playoffs, which has put him past a key milestone, as every player who has ever had at least 350 points, 150 rebounds, and 125 assists in a postseason reached the NBA Finals that year.
Every player in NBA history to reach 350+ PTS, 150+ REB and 125+ AST in a playoffs has made it to the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic has already reached those numbers. pic.twitter.com/rl9bbF6607
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 19, 2023
Although Joel Embiid broke Jokic’s two-year grip on the MVP award this season, the Joker still put up phenomenal numbers by averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists a game while shooting a remarkable 63.2 percent from the field during the regular season.
In this year’s playoffs, he has upped those numbers to 30.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and an NBA-high 10.2 assists per contest.
In some ways, Jokic may be underrated, as he is not a flashy player, he doesn’t really do commercials and he’s a low-key man who doesn’t promote or draw attention to himself.
But with the Nuggets now just six wins away from a world championship, he’s on his way to getting the recognition he deserves.
This Western Conference Final is not exactly over yet, as the Lakers have the talent and perhaps the resolve to win the next two games and possibly even win the series.
But right now, Denver seems to have more talent and firepower, not to mention the best player in the series and possibly the entire world.
