Nikola Jokic pushes the boundaries of basketball.
You’ve heard of an up-and-under move. You can probably picture it. Big guy down on the block, goes one way, pump fakes, gets the defender in the air, then slides into that vacated space underneath the leaping defender for an easy basket.
How about the up-and-under 3-pointer?
Welcome to Jokic’s world.
The Denver Nuggets superstar pulled out that move late in the first half on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It didn’t appear fully scripted. Jokic’s initial shooting motion got the defense in the air, but he didn’t rush into a shot.
Maybe he initially planned on drawing a foul, but the angles didn’t work right on that.
So instead he pivoted into the space and lofted up a 3-pointer.
The way Jokic crashed toward the basket after the shot, it appears he thought he was going to miss.
But this is Nikola Jokic we’re talking about. Of course this ridiculous shot went in.
HOW DID JOKER MAKE THIS 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/LMzSLKljNb
— NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2025
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Jokic’s entire NBA career is unique.
There’s never been a player like him. And no one would’ve ever expected a guy this special to have gone midway through the second round of his draft.
But here he is, an NBA champion, trying to win yet another MVP award.
Jokic might not be enough to get the Nuggets past the Thunder, but they’ve already put up more of a fight than anyone expected. They’ve got a legitimate chance to win the series.
And mostly, it’s because of Jokic, who every time down the floor finds a way to do something magical.
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