It’s been a pleasure to watch Nikola Jokic play basketball to begin the 2024-25 NBA season.

The Denver Nuggets are off to a 7-3 start, turning in a perfect 5-0 record on their most recent home stand. Jokic is the biggest reason why, averaging 29.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 11.7 assists while shooting 56.4% from three to start the year.

There’s nobody in the NBA that can do what he’s doing, and that underscores how impressive Denver’s turnaround has been. With Aaron Gordon missing time, Jamal Murray being inconsistent, and the Nuggets trusting a variety of young players, Jokic’s stability is invaluable. Yes, Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun are helpful contributors in the starting unit, but it mostly comes down to Jokic.

On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 122-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks in which Michael Porter Jr. hit a game-winning floater. Nikola Jokic had 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists. Kyrie Irving had 43 points, and Luka Doncic was dynamic, but it wasn’t enough to stop Denver from an undefeated home stand. Ryan discusses the Nuggets-Mavericks game. Jokic’s greatness, and more.

Pickaxe and Roll is a Nuggets podcast streamed live on YouTube every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10am MT. You can catch episodes live by subscribing to the Mile High Sports YouTube channel and turning on Bell Notifications.

If you can’t catch Pickaxe and Roll live, listen to the audio version on the BLEAV Podcast Network, or download this podcast episode wherever you get podcasts.