After hitting a trick shot that would’ve done Larry Bird proud to beat Dallas in the buzzer, Nikola Jokic pulled on his “Baywatch” boxers in the Pepsi Center locker room and acted as if his heroics were as pure dumb luck as purchasing a winning lotto ticket with the last dollar in his pocket.
“Lucky shot,” stated Jokic, after his one-handed, fade-away, no-look thinner from 10 feet hit nothing but net and ignited pandemonium among Denver fans who had forgotten how fun basketball can be.
This no-freaking-way miracle gave the Nuggets a 100-99 victory Thursday night in a match they had absolutely no business winning, but did since the Joker can’t help it if he’s the most improbable basketball superstar on the planet.
“He actually wanted to miss that shot,” joked Denver teammate Will Barton. “But he’s so good he made it. That’s what he does. ”
If changing the fortunes of an NBA franchise would be the real measure of a player’s value, then the only two legit candidates for MVP this year are Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Joker from our dusty old cow town.
“He’s got my vote for MVP, for sure,” stated Nuggets forward Paul Millsap, who wasn’t too shabby himself, scoring 33 points against the Mavericks.
David Zalubowski, The Associated PressDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokicback, throws up the winning shot over Dallas Mavericks forward Maximilian Kleber, center left, and Dwight Powell on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Denver. Nuggets forward Paul Millsap, front, looks on.
Down a point with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, trainer Michael Malone decided during a timeout to set the match in Jokic’s hands. However, the ensuing play couldn’t have been precisely how Malone drew it up, since the Joker took a pass away from the three-point circle and took one … 2 … three … four giant, frantic dribbles before throwing up a prayer only because there was no longer time and nowhere else to go.
After watching the replay a dozen times, I’m still not sure how Jokic made the shot, especially if everybody in the building, including all five defenders on the court for the Mavs, knew the ball was going to the Joker.
“He knows in the fourth quarter, we’re coming to him,” stated Nuggets point guard Monte Morris. “Me and Jamal (Murray), even coach say: ‘Punch it in. ’ It’s his time, it’s his team. We’re going to give the ball to our franchise player and allow him to win the match for us. ”
But in a crowded field of MVP candidates, my strong suspicion is Jokic stands no better than fifth, behind Antekounmpo, James Harden of Houston, Paul George of Oklahoma City and Stephen Curry of Golden State. I only want to know if there’s any voter out there brave enough to take the Joker seriously.
Marveling how Jokic carries the burden of making the Nuggets great night after night, Malone said: “Heavy is the head …”
And the Joker wears the crown. King him.
Mighty Golden State has Curry, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins and so many all-stars that what the NBA will stage this spring will feel much more like a rigged election than an open competition for the championship trophy.
But ask Jokic if there’s any chance the gritty, little Nuggets can somehow steal the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference from the Warriors, and he acts like a child eyeing a cookie on the kitchen counter five minutes before dinner, with Mom slaving over the stove, too busy to listen to
“Yeah,” Joker said with a shrug. “We can take it. ”
In the event you’re an NBA specialist who called Denver would be fighting Golden State to the wire for first place in the West, I’d be pleased to entertain your reasoning why Harden or George is a more worthy MVP candidate than Jokic. Otherwise, just admit you won’t vote for the Joker because he doesn’t look the part.
Jokic attempts to hide his swagger, pretending he’s a sports ball hero by happenstance, floating randomly round the top of the key as the clock winds down to 3-2-1, like a feather in the breeze.
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But don’t allow this Joker trick you. Any 7-foot-tall dude who walks around a locker room wearing boxers adorned with pictures of SpongeBob SquarePants or Pamela Anderson obviously dances like nobody’s watching.
After the Nuggets’ 45th victory of the season moved them within one game of the star-studded Warriors atop the Western Conference finals, I asked the reluctant MVP candidate if “Baywatch” was large in his native Serbia.
“Maybe it was,” Jokic said. “But I don’t understand, I was young when that show was on. ”
He traces Baywatch boxers and strikes trick shots at the buzzer. He might not win MVP. But if the Joker is not voted the most interesting man in the basketball world, I’m demanding a recount.
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