Jokic is already in MVP mode: a ridiculous assist
Nikola Jokic has already reopened his catalog of magic tricks: against Utah, he delivered a behind-the-back assist that was simply outrageous
The NBA season has not even started yet, and Nikola Jokic has already decided to produce one of the plays of the year. In the preseason game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz, the Serbian star pulled off an assist that, even by his standards, was something truly out of the ordinary.
With his back to the basket against Lauri Markkanen, practically from the corner, Jokic looks ready to begin his usual post-up work. Instead, he sees something that probably only he can see in that moment: a behind-the-back pass across the court, putting the ball directly into Cam Johnson’s hands in the opposite corner.
Johnson finishes the play by knocking down the three, turning the Joker’s pass into one of the first highlight plays of the new season.
At this point, being surprised by a Jokic assist has become difficult. The three-time MVP has built much of his uniqueness on his ability to find passing lanes that, for a center – and often for almost any other player – seem like they simply do not exist.
The most worrying part for opponents? This is still just preseason. Denver has not even started taking things seriously yet, while Jokic already looks like he has reopened his personal catalog of impossible passes.