The Denver Nuggets have had a rather slow start to the 2026-27 NBA season. After the latest loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, the Nuggets currently hold a 3-3 record.

While there is still plenty of basketball left to be played, Nikola Jokić’s early-season performances have raised some questions. Amid the struggles, NBA analyst Bill Simmons has shared a concerning observation, suggesting that the best version of Jokić might already be behind him.

Bill Simmons’ Recent Comment Regarding Nikola Jokić

On a recent episode of the “Bill Simmons podcast,” the analyst expressed concern that the peak version of Jokić could be gone.

One of the biggest reasons for his observation was Jokić’s noticeable decline in 3-point shooting since his return from last year’s injury. Simmons also pointed to his reduced free-throw attempts and how opposing defenses have started treating him differently.

“I think we have to pour one out for Apex Joker. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I hate to break the news to you this way. Look, his apex was six years. Most people’s apex in basketball is two to three. I’m not writing off Joker. I’m really concerned about him post-injury last year. The way he looked for the, when he came back, how he looked in the playoffs, and how he looks this year, because he can’t shoot threes anymore.”

“When he came back from his injury last year, 31% from three, playoffs 19%, this year 22%. The really alarming stuff, not just the eye test. He’s 22, 10, and 9. So he’s almost averaging a triple-double. I’m not saying he’s not good anymore. I’m just saying Apex Joker, best offensive player, you know, potentially in the history of the league, the way he was doing it. That guy might be gone,” Simmons said during the podcast,

Currently, Jokić is averaging 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 37.0 minutes per game. He is shooting 47.2% from the field and just 22.6% from the 3-point range.

The biggest difference has been in his scoring efficiency and rebounding numbers. Last season, Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists while shooting 56.9% from the field and 38.0% from the 3-point range. Compared to those numbers, his scoring has dropped by 5.7 points per game, while he is collecting fewer rebounds.

His field-goal percentage has also fallen by around 9.7 percentage points. However, his 3-point shooting has arguably been the most worrying part of his early-season performances. Going from 38.0% last season to just 22.6% is a significant drop for a player who often creates additional space for himself and his teammates with his shooting ability.

However, it would be too early to draw any major conclusions about Jokić’s future based on just six games. The season is still in its early stages, and the 3-time MVP has more than enough experience to work through a difficult stretch.

A strong performance or a small improvement in his shooting could quickly change the conversation.