Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are no joke

There is no doubt that the Denver Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. Since November 23, the Nuggets have been on a dominant run that has catapulted them to the top of the Western Conference with a 20-6 record during their run of dominance.

For a young team with one of the most unique superstars to hit the hardwood, they have met nothing but disappointment to end the seasons following their Western Conference Finals run in the 2020 NBA Bubble. However, this organizational bound that seems to be taking place in the Mile High City could not have come at a better time.

As the Western Conference’s dominance has ended- with superstars now residing in all corners and markets of the NBA- the Eastern Conference is arguably more stacked than the West for the first time in a long time. With Nikola Jokic playing like a potential three-peat MVP, there are no limits to where the Denver Nuggets can go in the playoffs with the West up for grabs.

For Jokic and the Nuggets, their 2022-23 season could not have gotten off to a better start. This Nuggets team has accustomed itself to the ways of winning since the emergence of Jokic. Dating back to the 2018-19 season, Jokic’s first All-Star season, the Nuggets have held the fourth-winningest record in the NBA, sitting only behind the Bucks, Celtics, and Sixers, respectively.

Despite never reaching the Finals during this period, the Nuggets have ironically won more games than any champion aside from Milwaukee since Jokic’s emergence. Even the Warriors dynasty that eliminated the Nuggets in the first round of last year’s playoffs has a lower winning percentage than Denver since Jokic’s fourth season.

Speaking of those reigning champions in the San Francisco Bay, their uncanny mortality pry’s the window of opportunity open even wider for the aspiring Nuggets. While Klay Thompson continues to find his stride since his two-year rehab, nagging injuries to Steph and Draymond have sent the Warrior’s typical regular season dominance sideways. Sitting at .500 with a 22-22 record, the Warriors can’t buy a win on the road with a 5-17 road record that mirrors that of the last-place Houston Rockets.

Outside of the Warriors, no other top-eight team has championship experience, leaving the West with plenty of parody. For a young budding superstar like Luka Doncic, Ja Morant or Zion Williamson, this creates the perfect chance to cement his legacy forever as a champion. Unfortunately for them however, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets seem poised to reach altitudes one of the oldest NBA franchises has yet to reach.