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Indiana Pacers: Will Domantas Sabonis continue to improve?

By Shawn Chambers

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 05: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers is introduced prior to the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 05, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 05: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers is introduced prior to the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 05, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic – Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nikola Jokic – Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Nikola Jokić – Denver Nuggets

2018-19: 80 GP, 20.1 PPG, 51.1 FG%, 10.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.4 STL
2019-20: 73 GP, 19.9 PPG, 52.8 FG%, 9.7 RPG, 7 APG, 1.2 STL

Despite his seven-foot, 284-pound frame, Jokić has developed into one of the best all-around players in the NBA. His ability to score inside and out along with a natural ability to distribute the ball out of the post is the perfect skill set for a big man in the modern NBA.

In Jokić’s first All-Star season, the young Denver Nuggets improved from ninth in the West to the two-seed with a 54-28 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets put the metaphorical nail in the coffin on the San Antonio Spurs dynasty before falling to the Portland Trail Blazers in a seven-game series.

The development of a young core around Jokić took some of the pressure off the big man in 2019-20. It took a pair of seven-game series for the three seed to get past the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in the Orland Bubble playoffs. It was the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers that send the Nuggets home.

After a pair of All-Star seasons, Jokić appears to be leading a young championship-caliber team out of Denver. It’s no surprise to see his stats decline slightly with the team results continuing to improve. Ideally for Domantas Sabonis, the Pacers’ roster stays healthy and continues to develop taking some of the pressure off the young big man in a model similar to what Jokić saw in Denver last season.

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