Have the Nuggets ?Deprived? Nikola Jokic of $116,094,751 Despite 8 Years of Loyalty and Maiden NBA Championship?

Nikola Jokic‘s near-decade devotion has made his team a formidable force in the NBA. The Joker’s amazing performance won the franchise their one and only gold. But despite being a lucky charm of the Denver Nuggets, the superstar hasn’t gotten his due. As per a new data bank, the Colorado-based team’s poster boy has emerged as one of the NBA’s most undervalued players.

Nikola Jokic’s underpaid position has become even more obvious following a remarkable 2022-23 season in which he reached new heights. With a 77.2% difference between his actual value and what he is paid, the compensation does not match his performance.

The Joker is not compensated fairly

Nikola Jokic began his NBA career as a relatively unknown second-round choice. Today, he is not just a household name, but also the defending NBA champion. Jokic has regularly surpassed his salary throughout his career, making him a genuine treasure for the Denver Nuggets. He remains one of the best contracts in NBA, despite the ceiling in terms of contract he?s hit. If we believe Real Value, Nikola was underpaid by $37.0 mn last season. But, it isn?t that difficult to comprehend. He has a distinct playing style, mixed with his excellent basketball IQ, passing, and scoring. His efficiency is commendable, by not just fans but analytics, too. His flexibility had led to the Nuggets getting accolades, making him indispensable and priceless.

Jokic’s performance in the 2022-23 season reached new heights, earning him a position on the 2nd Team All-NBA and an All-Star nomination. While he received $33.1 million from the Nuggets, his real value skyrocketed to an incredible $70.1 million. The extraordinary gap of $37.0 million in underpayment is not just astonishing, it?s also the greatest in the entire season. This makes Jokic the league’s most underpaid player that season. And if we combine all 8 seasons, Jokic seems to be ‘deprived’ of ?$116,094,751 from the Denver Nuggets.

But, one can certainly not call it an ‘underpayment’ too. The contract in question was signed in 2018. And throughout his 8-year stay with Nuggets, the NBA star has routinely excelled at, even earning and All-Star level despite the numbers. Considering this, what might not have been an actual representation of his worth, Nuggets did reward him with the biggest contract at the time of signing. In fact, going forward, he seems to be inching closer to his Real Value.

Jokic’s passion for the Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship, marking a historic milestone for the franchise in their first trip to the finals. The star player was instrumental in the triumph, receiving the NBA Finals MVP title. His effort drove the Nuggets to their highest point, with a historic accomplishment for the organization. The Serbian superstar continues to flourish for the franchise, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for the third straight season. In a season in which he came close to averaging a triple-double, Jokic came up just short, registering an amazing 9.8 assists per game.

The Joker’s talent extends beyond scoring and rebounding, as he already stands in the top ten for all-time triple-doubles. It also demonstrates his versatility in scoring, playmaking, and defense. His ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck is exactly what a team like the Nuggets needs. He represents the word ‘clutch’ in the modern game.

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Despite missing out on the MVP title this season, Jokic remains the finest playmaker in his position. With his triumph, he has cemented his place in NBA history as the captain who delivered honor to a club and a city. His legacy is written in stone and the locker room will be all the lesser should they lose out on their talisman.

What do you think about the compensation of Jokic by the Nuggets? Let us know in the comments.

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