Nikola Jokić
Jokić is Denver's engine and a clear centerpiece this season, with the only open question being how many minutes Denver asks of him, not his role.
Role
Through five games he averages about 37 minutes (CBS shows 37.2, StatMuse 37.3). His per-game line is 21.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists (Yahoo, Nov 2). The five games ranged from 34 to 44 minutes, with 44 coming in the Oct 24 overtime home win over New Orleans. He has a triple-double in each of two games: the Oct 24 overtime win over New Orleans and the Oct 28 win in New Orleans, his 200th regular-season triple-double. Coach David Adelman has leaned on the starters heavily, with Jamal Murray at 43 minutes, Christian Braun at 40 and Aaron Gordon at 37 in that same game. I did not read a current starting-five or rotation page. I have not confirmed the backup center behind him.
He has started the year with elite playmaking and a 37-minute workload. Rotowire called his opening-week stretch an excellent start. After a poor opener against Oklahoma City he scored 35 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the overtime win over New Orleans. With Murray scoring 42 in one game, the offense can run through both stars.
Shooting and efficiency have been uneven: 5-19 in the opener, 5-19 in the Oct 22 Oklahoma City game by one log and 8-18 against Golden State, with three-point accuracy low. Turnovers are high: 5 and 7 in the last two games, and 6 against New Orleans. Denver is 3-2. One Nuggets site argues the heavy starter minutes are not sustainable and will cost the team later, which raises the chance of minutes cuts or rest later in the season.
Where analysts split
The disagreement is workload: whether Adelman keeps Jokić near 37 minutes or cuts it as depth is tested, since one commentator says the added depth has not yet shown up on the court. I found no reporting on back-to-back rest plans, so I cannot say whether he will sit any.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at C
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