Denver Nuggets: 5 Best Nuggets Players since 2000

#3 Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic has slowly transitioned into the Nuggets' key player

The Denver Nuggets failed to qualify for the 2014 playoffs and entered the off-season early. It was the first time that the franchise had failed to make it to the postseason in 11 years. Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

He was impressive in his first year in the NBA, averaging 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. However, Denver failed to make it to the playoffs, once again.

Denver saw similar results in the following two years, but Jokic has transitioned very quickly into the Nuggets' go-to guy. The fans must be very happy looking at the kind of success the team is enjoying in the ongoing 2018-19 NBA season.

In the 2018 off-season, he signed a five-year, $148 million deal with the Nuggets. Jokic is averaging career-high numbers across the board with 20.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is one of the best ball-handling centers in the league right now.