Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets have been dominant over the Los Angeles Lakers in recent years.
With Denver’s 127-102 road win over L.A. on Saturday night, the Nuggets have now won 13 of 14 games over their Southern California rivals and have ended their season in two straight playoffs. The Nuggets’ dominance over the Lakers has been so profound lately that it’s probably time to unveil a proper nickname like “NikoLA” or “Jok Angeles.”
This success is mainly thanks to Jokic’s sheer brilliance, of course, which is why you’re here in the first place.
READ MORE: Nikola Jokic is somehow better than ever
In the midst of another sublime 34-point, 13-rebound, eight-assist performance, the reigning NBA MVP kinda just started screwing around as the Nuggets toyed with the Lakers in a 70-39 second half for Denver.
With just 0.3 seconds left on the third-quarter clock, Jokic directed promising Nuggets forward Peyton Watson to inbound a generous lob in his direction. Jokic proceeded to one-tap the ball nearly the full length of the court like he was playing water polo, not basketball. And folks, it was actually a lot closer than you’d ever expect it to be. In fact, because of Jokic’s quick one-tap approach, it would’ve beat the buzzer, too!
The big man’s imagination knows no bounds:
one of my favorite missed shots ever. pic.twitter.com/1lXPIPnqaY
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 24, 2024
This is how seriously Jokic takes the Lakers now: he starts doing personal side quests in the middle of blowout wins.
Nonetheless, let’s think about this. How many NBA players would even think of trying something as incredulous as this? Jokic’s outside-the-box thinking and creativity as a professional athlete are things we should really appreciate more.
It’s also worth mentioning that Jokic did make a more reasonable (but still ridiculous) water polo-type shot earlier in the game with three Lakers surrounding him in the paint:
WOW, Nikola Jokić with the water-polo finish
This guy, man pic.twitter.com/tIGdX14J8o
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) November 24, 2024
Man, Jokic is impossible.
What a joy to watch the Nuggets’ superstar center play this game.
