Nikola Jokic’s passing is absolutely filthy and we can’t get enough

Look at this pass Nikola Jokic pulled off on Monday night.

That was just one of 15 dimes Jokic dished out in the Nuggets’ 106-103 win over the top-seeded Raptors. Seven of those dimes came in the first quarter alone. Denver’s big man has the best court vision of any player his size — and maybe any size, period — in the NBA.

His penchant for pinpoint passes is the most enjoyable part of his game.

Jokic’s 15-assist night was the centerpiece of his 18th career triple-double. He’s the only center in the past 30 years to have more than 15 assists in a game, and he’s done it three times in his career at that. The accomplishment becomes even more impressive when you expand the list to forwards. Draymond Green is the only other active non-guard to record at least 15 assists in a game, and retired forwards who have done it include Larry Bird, Alex English, Rick Barry, and Elgin Baylor.

Jokic is averaging 16 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game this season. We’ve never seen a player his size put up that unique collection of numbers. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other center to average more than seven assists in a season, and was more dominant than most other players in NBA history.

Jokic also had a 16-assist game against Utah earlier this season.

And his career-best 17-assist game came against the Bucks last season.

There isn’t much Jokic can’t do. The Joker is a wizard, in a world where wizards are hefty seven-footers who dribble, shoot, and pass like point guards. He has a bag of passing tricks, full of give and gos, kick-outs, outlet passes, dimes in transition, and everything else you can imagine. Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said it best in early November: “Nikola can dominate a game without scoring at all.”

Or maybe Nuggets guard Jamal Murray’s line best sums Jokic’s game in its entirety: “There’s nothing that he can’t do. Except jump.”