The rest of the Western Conference will have to watch out for the Denver Nuggets in the 2025-26 NBA season. Why? Because Nikola Jokic is still running the show, and it finally looks like he has the role players around him to bring his team back into title contention.
The three-time MVP will ensure the Nuggets run like well-oiled machinery with the new additions, eyeing to contend for the NBA title once more. And Denver forward Aaron Gordon is certain Jokic can do just that.
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On ESPN, Gordon expressed high praise for his teammate, explaining how his play style makes him arguably one of the greatest players ever.
“He’s amazing,” Gordon said. “It is an experience, you know, to get to play around one of the best players, if not the best player, of all time.”
The Jokic experienceÂ
Jokic is a unicorn, a one-of-a-kind player that has changed the center position and expanded everyone’s idea of what big men can do on the basketball floor.
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At 6 feet 11 inches, Jokic has the handles, passion and vision of a guard combined with the low and high-post finesse and strength of a traditional center. He shoots efficiently from 3-point range and has a soft touch around the rim, making him a threat whenever he has the ball. On top of that, he has a high-level basketball IQ very few are able to match.
In the 2024-25 season, Jokic finished second in the MVP voting behind Oklahoma City Thunder’s star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after averaging a triple-double of 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists. He led the Nuggets to the Western Conference semifinals where they faced and fell to the eventual champions, the Thunder.
Gordon acknowledged that Jokic has a certain gravity that allows him to scramble defenses.
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“It was the gravity that Joker has. He’s shooting a one-legged fadeaway runner, and everybody in the gym thinks that’s going in,” he said.
The Joker-Air Gordon connection
It’s no wonder Gordon thinks highly of Jokic. Besides his individual brilliance, his overall package has made his team better — and Gordon is one of the most notable beneficiaries.
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The Jokic-Gordon duo is one of the most dangerous in the league, with the forward’s ability to convert Jokic’s assists, be it off a lob, an outlet pass, off a cut, or a kickout.
According to PBP Stats, Jokic assisted Gordon 74 times during the 2024-25 NBA season. Most of his assists went to Christian Braun (168), Michael Porter Jr. (155), Jamal Murray (116) and Russel Westbrook (84).
All the guys around him need to do is make sure to hit the shot and not waste the assist. If the Nuggets convert efficiently, they are well on their way to pulling off a deep run in the West.
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“I’m just in my spot. Trying to do what I do, being in the right place at the right time. But he makes it click,” Gordon said. “And I think we have a great understanding with each other on and off the basketball floor, so you guys are going to see that flourish.”
The Nuggets acquired Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown during the offseason. As a result, most see them as a legitimate threat to at least come out of the West.
And Jokic, the top favorite for MVP according to an ESPN poll this season, will be at the helm, making sure everything clicks.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.