Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic Explains Why All-Star Game Isn't Made For Him
Winning back-to-back MVP awards with the Denver Nuggets and in a prime position to win his third consecutive MVP award this season, Nikola Jokic has proven that he is one of the best players in the entire NBA.
However, just because you are one of the best, if not the best, players in the league does not mean you will be “the guy” in the NBA All-Star Game.
That was the case for Jokic yet again, as for the fourth consecutive season, he did not look like a two-time MVP in the All-Star Game amongst the rest of the league’s best stars.
This year, the NBA decided to host the All-Star Game draft right ahead of the start of the game, that way nobody knew who would be on which team. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the captains in what felt like a schoolyard pick-up game and after selecting their reserves first, they then had to choose between Jokic and the rest of the All-Star Game starters.
Surprisingly enough, the two-time MVP was one of the last picks in the All-Star Game draft and he may have very well been the last pick if he had not selected himself to Team LeBron.
With just him and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen remaining, Jokic stood up and walked over to LeBron James and his team before James made his final selection.
Many thought Nikola Jokic did this to prevent himself from being the ultimate final pick in the draft, but after the game, Jokic said he felt bad because he did not realize that Markkanen was still on the stage and had not been selected. Markkanen responded after the game stating that there are no hard feelings, especially since everything worked out with him being on the winning team!
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who coached Team LeBron in the All-Star Game, also clarified to reporters that this was the case and that Jokic did feel bad and apologized to Markkanen because he truly felt like he was the last guy up there during the draft.
“No, I would not draft myself either,” Jokic said after the game in regards to being asked if he was surprised to go as late as he did in the draft. “I’m not meant for this game.”
As far as the game went, Jokic finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in 21 minutes of play, the most minutes he has ever played in the All-Star Game.
Nothing about a 10-9-8 game is bad, but to Jokic’s point, he does make a lot of sense saying that the All-Star Game is not made for his style of play.
Jokic is not really a one-on-one, finesse-type of player and is more of an all-around facilitator, as we have seen through the years in Denver. The NBA All-Star Game is very one-on-one oriented with players showing off their athleticism and just trying to dazzle the crowd with amazing dunks and long-range threes.
None of this is really incorporated in Nikola Jokic’s game, which is why he was not shocked to be picked where he was and why he does not put up MVP-like numbers in this game.
Being a part of the best team in the Western Conference though and leading the league in triple-doubles this season, Jokic is the clear frontrunner for this season’s MVP award and the only thing he is worried about is contending for a title with the Denver Nuggets.
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