Can Nikola Jokic Dunk? Debunking Serbian Giant’s Career Numbers After Hilarious Failure at All-Star Weekend

Published 02/20/2024, 6:31 PM HKT

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USA Today via Reuters

It was the final event of the All-Star weekend, Team West vs. Team East and while some might have called it a snooze fest, this year’s no.1 MVP-contender, Nikola Jokic, left the crowd and the millions of fans in stitches after a playful attempt at a dunk that ended in a hilarious miss!

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The lighthearted exhibition, compared to the high-pressure regular season, allows room for experimentation and some jokes. The “Joker”, known for his humor, saw a chance to entertain. He lined up under the rim, ready for a dunk, but instead, opted for a behind-the-back, no-look attempt in the last 3 seconds of the game and missed!

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Now, this guy is a statistical monster. He became the first ever to lead the league in points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single playoff run, basically carrying his team, the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA title.

But having acknowledged his balling brilliance, let’s take a look at some of his dunk stats or rather, the lack thereof. In the 2022-23 season, he averaged a measly 0.2 dunks per game. But hey, numbers don’t tell the whole story! At 6’11” with a wingspan like an airplane, he occasionally throws down. In his career, spanning over 10 years, the Joker has dunked 168 times.

However, compared to other big men, Jokic’s numbers are underwhelming. Joel Embiid, also an MVP contender previously (now out because of surgery), averaged 1.7 dunks per game, a stark contrast to the Joker’s stats.

Don’t Let The Joker Fool You

The “Joker” doesn’t need gravity-defying dunks to impress. Instead, His two MVP awards are proof of his unique dominance. He’s got 9 seasons under his belt with the Nuggets, averaging 20.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. He’s a 5-time All-Star, with 2 MVPs, a Finals MVP, and an NBA championship under his belt.

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Even in the All-Star game, he scored 31 points (better than his usual 26.1), showed off his incredible passing with 4 assists (a bit lower than his 8.9 average), and proved his scoring power. So, while the dunk was a miss, it just reminds us that even the best players can have fun, mess up, and laugh at themselves. After all, it’s just an All-Star game!

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Sitting comfortably at 4th in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets would be well-rested and ready after the All-Star Weekend break for their match-up with the Washington Wizards on February 23rd.

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Will the Joker strike again with some comedy or will it be a typical, serious NBA showdown?

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Written by:

Aakritee Raajj

58Articles

One take at a time

A lawyer turned NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, Aakritee Raajj found herself in the right realm as soon as she dropped her black coat to don the Mavericks’ jersey in the NBA department. That’s how the content strategy desk trusts her with any coverage demanding a legal knowhow. She became a fan of the league in the late 2000’s after Dirk Nowitzki upset the Miami Heat in Game 6 during 2011 NBA Finals.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe

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