David Adelman boldly claims the effectiveness of Nikola Jokić

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was nothing short of sensational for the start of the season. Against the Indiana Pacers, Jokic recorded another masterful statistic of 32 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists. According to the Nuggets head coach David Adelmanbelieves that we are truly witnessing something historic. After the win over the Pacers, Adelman made a bold claim about how effective Jokic is compared to the NBA’s all-time greats.

“I think we should talk about the efficiency numbers,” Adelman said of Jokic. “He’s the most efficient basketball player I’ve ever seen. And I know there are guys in the past that I haven’t seen play, but for me, in this modern generation of basketball, please show me who else plays like this at this efficient level offensively. It’s a joy to watch. … I’m going to keep talking, just enjoy this.

HK Nuggets’ David Adelman says Nikola Jokic is the most effective player he’s ever seen.

“In this modern generation of basketball, please show me who else is playing at this efficient offensive level.”#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/KSVcViVALki

— Rachel Strand (@MileHighRachel) November 9, 2025

In nine games this season, Jokic recorded a career-high six triple-doubles. His shooting numbers from inside the arc are almost staggering. He is currently shooting 76.8% from two-point range, which is a significant improvement over last year’s 62.7%. He also boasts a true shooting percentage of 73.3%.

As expected, Jokić has a very high player efficiency rating from 37.63. This puts him second in the NBA just behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has a rating of 38.71.

Jokic’s average is down slightly this season at 25.2 points per game compared to last season’s 29.6. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. During the off-season, The Nuggets front office has beefed up their roster with complementary pieces like Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. In past seasons, the Nuggets have had very limited bench depth, leaving Jokic to carry much of the scoring burden. Now with a better supporting cast around him, Jokic can still put up his usual big numbers without hitting the ground running.

Behind Jokic, the Nuggets improved to 7-2. They will look to continue their winning streak when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.