Jokic becomes 1st Nugget since Carmelo to be named starter
What was essentially a foregone conclusion became official Thursday night: Nuggets franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic was named to his third consecutive All-Star Game and his first as a starter.
He’ll be the first Nuggets player to start an All-Star Game since Carmelo Anthony in 2011 and the third since 1976-’77 to be selected to three consecutive All-Star Games, joining Alex English and David Thompson.
He’ll suit up for the NBA’s midseason exhibition in Atlanta on March 7 alongside fellow All-Star starters LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry and Luka Doncic from the Western Conference and Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Bradley Beal and Kyrie Irving from the East.
Given the ongoing restrictions and risk an All-Star Game presents, Jokic was asked two weeks ago whether he wanted to participate.
And though he joked he’d appreciate any rest possible, he ultimately said playing in the exhibition was an honor for him.
“You represent a lot of people,” he said. “Back home, Serbia, Sombor, my family. It’s an honor to be there.”
Jokic, whose stats across the first 28 games of the season are all career-highs, has played at an MVP-caliber pace despite the Nuggets’ 15-13 record. At 27.4 points per game, Jokic is on pace to shatter his previous best scoring season (20.1), and his rebounding (11.1 rpg) and passing (8.6 apg) are also career-bests.
Over his last 10 games, Jokic has scored at least 35 points in five of them.