Nikola Jokic has never had a teammate earn All-Star, All-NBA, or All-Defensive honors in the same season — a historic outlier among NBA greats. His numbers and success defy logic, but Denver’s lack of elite support remains glaring and unsustainable.
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Nikola Jokic may be building a Hall of Fame résumé on sheer brilliance alone, but one staggering stat puts his entire journey into sobering perspective: across 839 career games, not a single teammate has made an All-Star, All-NBA, or All-Defensive team in the same season.
Among nearly 5,000 NBA players with 700+ career games, Jokic is the only one who’s never had a co-star recognized by the league in the same year. Not one peer has earned seasonal honors during his run — a truly unprecedented solo act in league history.
For all the statistical wizardry — MVPs, triple-doubles, a championship — Jokic’s rise has come without the validation of elite help. Even icons like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan had All-NBA or All-Star teammates during their title pushes.
And yet, Jokic dominates. This postseason, he led all players in points, rebounds, assists, steals, stocks, double-doubles, triple-doubles, and field goals. His final playoff line: 26.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 2.2 steals, 49% shooting — while facing elite defenses and playing 40+ minutes per game.
His regular season? Possibly his best yet: 29.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 57.6% from the field, 41.7% from three. He became the first player ever to finish top-three in points, rebounds, assists, and steals in a single season.
These aren’t empty numbers. Jokic turned them into wins, playoff runs, and a 2023 title.
But Denver’s lack of an award-level co-star is now impossible to ignore. Jamal Murray has had his moments, especially in the postseason, but without All-NBA recognition or defensive honors, Jokic remains in a category of his own — carrying, creating, and contending with little decorated support.
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