The Denver Nuggets are off to a slow start to the 2024-2025 NBA season following the loss of some key role players, a slow shooting start, Jamal Murray not looking like himself and another chapter of the Russell Westbrook experimental tour of the country.
Dysfunction has shown a couple of times already early in the season with Westbrook playing to a +/- of -37 through the teams first three games and Jokic calling out the fact that the team lacks capable three point shooters, which seems to have merit as they have started the season shooting 35% from behind the three point line. Jamal Murray is also off to a slow start despite averaging 18.8 PPG he is shooting a disappointing 38% from the field and 35% from 3 point range. Russ did have a bounce back win in their overtime victory against Brooklyn on the back end of a back to back where they shot 48% from three, leaving some hope for some competent shooting on the horizon.
However, Jokic has had to play a different style of basketball from his usual point/center-esque self. In the first four games of the season, Jokic has taken 26 or more shots in 2 of those games. Last year, Jokic took 26 or more shots four times all season. With the offensive struggles that seem like they may have in store in Denver, Jokic may have to take games over with his scoring, something that we have not seen consistently yet in his career. All of last season, Jokic averaged 17.9 FGA per game and shot an effective field goal percentage of 61.2% which ranked 11th in the NBA. So far this season, he is shooting 55% from 3 and 57.3% from the field, including a seven three pointer barrage in a loss against the Clippers. Although these numbers aren’t fully sustainable, it is safe to assume that his efficiency stays high throughout this season, and if his shot attempts continue to take a steep increase, we may be in store for a historic scoring season for the former MVP.
