Before Friday's showdown against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers expressed that Nikola Jokic remains underappreciated.

Via Chris Dempsey of Altitude Sports:

“I don't think people realize how good he is, just watch him, Doc Rivers said. He's just a very clever player, he really is. and he's doing it from the 5-spot.”

After finishing fourth in MVP voting last season, Jokic is having another phenomenal season. The Serbian big man is averaging a career-high 20.8 points,10 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. The Nuggets center is also shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from three-point range.

However, Jokic did struggle early on in the season. During a recent interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN, Jokic revealed his 25-pound weight loss is what helped him turn his season around.

“I think I didn’t shoot it that well in the first period, my shots were always off and short and I was a little bit overweight,” said Jokic during an interview during All-Star Weekend.

Nonetheless, the Nuggets are seeking to beat the Clippers for the second time this season. In their previous matchup, the 25-year-old put up a team-high 20 points, to go along with 15 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. The seven-footer scored a majority of his points from three-point range, going 3-4 for the night.

Friday's matchup with be a crucial matchup between both teams as they're fighting for the second seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets currently boast a record of 40-18 and are one game ahead of the Clippers.