Should Nikola Jokic’s 2023 playoffs run be talked about as one of the individual all time great run?
Nikola Jokic averaged 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 20 games in the 2023 playoffs. He won his first Finals MVP award and his first NBA championship.
First time in history that a player has less the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists.
Individually, he played the best defenders at his position in Gobert, Davis and Bam.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2023_totals.html
Yeah, who would reference the only time in history a player led the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists, or smashed the record for the most triple doubles ever.
there wasnt a single team that was favourite to win over them
That’s how being a 1 seed works
ok? having a better team and winning once isnt historic
This post is about individual performance.
For one thing, the Suns were favored not only in betting odds, but also by analysts (here are 13 out of 17 ESPN analysts picking the Suns to win the Nuggets series),, so you’re making shit up, but even if you weren’t totally wrong, that logic is hilarious: “Can’t be that good if no one was favored over you.”
No brother, that means you are good. The Lakers and Heat weren’t favored over the Nuggets because Jokic was having one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history, wafflestomping his way through the playoffs.
there wasnt a single team you went up against that will be remembered in 5 years, just being better than others doesnt mean you had a historic run lmao
People won’t remember the KD Booker suns? People won’t remember Bron AD Lakers? People won’t remember the heat that made 2 finals and 3 conference finals in 4 years?
In 70+ years of NBA basketball there have been hundreds of playoff teams, thousands and thousands of players, including all the legends.
In addition to blowing away Wilt’s record for most triple-doubles in the playoffs while coming within a few assists of a 30+ point triple double average for an entire NBA playoff run, which including 50+ point games, multiple 20+ rebound games, 9 games with 12+ assists, Jokic became the first player ever - over Wilt, MJ, Lebron, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Magic, Bird, KD, Kareem, Kobe, Steph, you name - to lead the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists.
No matter the teams, no matter how good (or shitty) the competition, no player in NBA history ever did that, until Jokic just did it.
You’ve got a strange definition of “not historic.”
you can type 7 more paragraphs and it wont change the fact that nuggets didnt play against a great team in the whole run
Now that’s a take that is up for a nuanced and intelligent discussion!
why tf would i be having an intelligent discussion on reddit about fucking jokic lmao
That explains the arguments you’re making. Have a good day then. 🙏