Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic is showing off his skills on the international level, representing Serbia in a friendly match against France on Thursday.
What happened?
Nikola Jokic casually dropped an incredible dime that 99% of basketball players in the world would have difficulties pulling off, as noted by Tom Haberstroh.
This kind of playmaking is what makes Jokic elevate his team regardless of the supporting cast around him. Even with a depleted Nuggets roster, they still won 47 games during the 2021-22 campaign and made it to the playoffs.
Why it matters for Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets lost rising star Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers and got back a distant first-round pick from the Cavs (2031) along with a 2032 second-rounder in return. But as long as Nikola Jokic is on the roster, the Nuggets' floor as a team should be safe.
What comes next?
There are plenty of fans who are counting the Nuggets out, after they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-98 on 2026-05-01, and their recent form has been 2W-0D-3L, with losses in the last two games. But Denver simply needs those players to lock in and play their role to the best of their abilities, as at the end of the day, the onus to lead the team falls on Jokic's shoulders. And by the looks of it, he's more than ready and capable of doing so from the get-go, with players like Jamal Murray and new signings like Lonnie Walker IV, Alpha Diallo, and Marvin Bagley III expected to support him.
