Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets Prediction: Combined starting 5 featuring Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic

Small Forward - Will Barton (Denver Nuggets)

Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets

Will Barton has been a valuable role player for the Denver Nuggets for the past six seasons and will be again this year. Unable to recover from his knee issues, Barton was forced to leave the bubble and was a big miss for the Nuggets, who have leaned on the 30-year-old as a sixth man and starter during his tenure with the franchise.

Coming into this year, Barton looks back to his versatile, healthy best and is currently averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Power Forward - Paul Millsap (Denver Nuggets)

Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz - Game Four

Paul Millsap has excelled in Denver as the support guy for the franchise's young star, Nikola Jokic. Even at 35, Millsap is still causing problems for team's across the league, averaging 12 points and four rebounds.

Coach Michael Malone has found a good balance between veteran quality and his younger assets. Although playing limited minutes as a starter, Millsap is extremely efficient on the offensive end, currently shooting 68%.

Center - Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Phoenix Suns v Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic is currently producing career-high and MVP-caliber averages in the Denver Nuggets' opening seven games. The Serbian big man is largely carrying the Nuggets' misfiring offense thus far, scoring 24 points, a league-high 11.9 assists and 11.7 rebounds.

Nikola Jokic this season:✅ 24.1 PPG✅ 11.7 RPG✅ 11.9 APGHe's just the second player in NBA history to average at least 20 PPG, 10 RPG, and 10 APG through his first seven games of season, joining Oscar Robertson (1961-62 & 1963-64). pic.twitter.com/lRsoxB2SHK

— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) January 6, 2021

Jokic has been progressing throughout his time in the NBA and finally has his name firmly in the MVP conversations. Behind their 25-year old center, the Denver Nuggets have been developing their young talent to compete with the Los Angeles franchises in the West.

Jokic has dominated most of the opposition in front of him so far and will again produce a mismatch for the Nuggets against the weaker Dwight Powell or Willie Cauley-Stein.