Atlanta Hawks Game Preview: Feb. 8 vs. Denver Nuggets

A Superstar In The Making

If you don’t know who Nikola Jokic is then I feel bad for you. This guy is the real deal and is a budding superstar. Jokic is averaging 15.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 59.2 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from three-point range. He boasts a PER of 26.5.

Jokic is a 6-foot-10 big man with the skills of a guard. He can push the ball up the floor. He’s an exceptional play-maker and he gets buckets in the paint. His outside shot is still developing, but Jokic is the perfect modern big man. It’s like he was designed by scientists in a laboratory.

Jokic is only playing 25.9 minutes per game this season, as it took Denver a few months to realize he was clearly the best player on their team. He also has a tendency to get into foul trouble, Jokic averages 3 fouls per game. If he can get his fouling issues solved, he could be an All-Star sooner rather than later.

His well-rounded skill-set will eventually make him a triple-double machine. After flirting with it a few times, he finally nabbed one Feb. 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Nuggets coach Michael Malone noted to the media after the game that this won’t be his last one.

"“This will be the first of many triple-doubles,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said."

Jokic excitedly added a humorous quote of his own.

"“Yeah, and I hugged him,” Jokic said. “I was naked and I hugged him. That’s true.”"

Jokic will remained fully clothed during Wednesday’s game, but he still might put on a show. Paul Millsap or Dwight Howard will have a difficult task in slowing him down.