Nikola Jokic’s solo journey to dominance highlights the urgent need for star support in Denver.

Nikola Jokic has rewritten the history books with his brilliance, but a stunning stat highlights just how isolated his journey has been. Through 839 career games, Jokic has never had a single teammate who made an All-Star, All-NBA, or All-Defensive team in the same season.

Of nearly 5,000 players in NBA history with at least 700 career games, Jokic stands alone in this category. Not one peer to share the load during his rise. Not one co-star was officially recognized during the season for elite-level contribution.

This statistic doesn’t just reflect poor roster fortune, it redefines the meaning of carrying a franchise. Even legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan had elite help throughout most of their careers. Jokic has had none, at least not by the league’s seasonal honors standard.

And yet, Jokic continues to produce otherworldly numbers. This postseason alone, he led all players in points, rebounds, assists, steals, total “stocks” (steals + blocks), double-doubles, triple-doubles, and field goals.

That’s not just a dominant run. That’s a statistical monarchy. He finished the playoffs averaging 26.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 2.2 steals in over 40 minutes per game, all while shooting nearly 49% from the field against elite defenses. The fact that he does this every year with such limited support makes the numbers even more absurd.

This past regular season might have been his best yet: 29.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, with 57.6% shooting from the field and 41.7% from three.

He became the first player in NBA history to finish top three in four major statistical categories in a single season: points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

These aren’t empty stats. They’ve translated to wins, playoff success, and a championship in 2023. But the gap between Jokic and the help around him is becoming painfully visible.

Jamal Murray has been the closest thing to a consistent co-star. He steps up in the playoffs, elevating his averages from 18.0 points in the regular season to 23.7 in the postseason, and has delivered countless clutch performances.

Still, Murray has never been named an All-Star, All-NBA, or All-Defensive player, even once. That’s the best Jokic has had. And it’s simply not enough.

Denver’s supporting cast is filled with solid players like Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, but none of them have ever received league-wide honors. And that’s the issue.

Every championship team eventually needs a second star, someone who can take the load when the primary guy is doubled, tired, or facing foul trouble. Jokic has done it all alone far too long.

He’s now 30. His prime is right now. The Nuggets’ front office must act with urgency. They’ve already let two post-title seasons slip without adding meaningful star power.

The window won’t stay open forever. Jokic has proven he can carry a franchise to the promised land with little help, but imagine what he could do with it.