NBA
How Nikola Jokic Became an All-Time Great
Route 23: Breaking down exactly how a Denver Nuggets 2nd round pick named Nikola Jokic became one of the greatest players in NBA history
Opta Analyst
As one of the most accomplished and consistently productive players in the NBA, fans are used to seeing Nikola Jokic win MVP awards and lead a perennial championship contender. However, it was less than 10 years ago that arguably the NBA’s best player was nothing more than an afterthought as the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The Serbian big man had little to no hype when he first entered the Association but will leave it as a certified legend and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer who left his imprint on the game unlike anybody before him… That’s why he’s The Joker.
But how did he do it? Let’s break it down:
“[Nikola] Jokic might be, at the end of the day, the greatest center in the history of the NBA... At the end of his career. He’s that good. He's better than Shaq. I'll tell you that right now."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 14, 2024
— Mad Dog Russo 😳
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/glrZUjo3Hf
NBA records among Centers
NIKOLA JOKIC IS THE GREATEST PASSING BIG MAN OF ALL-TIME
COLORS KEY | FULL TEAM OUTLOOK
The biggest reason the 6’11-285 lb European has entered into the conversation of who the best basketball player in the world is stems from his prolific passing ability. Gifted with uncanny vision and pinpoint accuracy, The Joker is one of the only Centers in the history of basketball to control his team’s offense and be relied upon to be the team’s primary facilitator.
His highlights and the game film will show he’s more than up for the task as he’s evolved into an unstoppable triple-double machine while being trusted with the ball always in his hands. It’s not that unusual for a big man to score 10+ points and rack up 10+ rebounds. But to also do that while averaging 10+ assists in the way he does it, is what makes The Joker so special.
THE JOKER IS 1 OF THE MOST CEREBRAL PLAYERS IN THE GAME
Fueling Joker’s passing vision is his overall basketball IQ and understanding of the game. The Nuggets’ All-Star Center can see the game at a level that most players simply can’t. Whether it’s getting the right teammates in rhythm at the right time, manipulating referees’ eyes to gain a competitive advantage, or knowing exactly how to abuse specific matchups, Jokic shows off his brilliance every time he touches the floor and it’s big reason for his sustained success.
A VERSATILE OFFENSIVE GAME IN THE POST HAS SPARKED HIS SUCCESS
While Nikola Jokic is most known for his passing on the offensive side of the ball, there’s a reason he’s also capable of putting up 40+ points on any given night as well. He didn’t enter the league with much polish or proven ability to go to work in the post but now there aren’t many players who a coach would rather have the ball while in the post than Jokic. His combination of Hakeem-like fakes, efficient hook shots, and effective floaters make him extremely difficult to contain when he’s in the paint.
BECOMING A RELIABLE SHOOTER HAS OPENED UP HIS GAME
If Nikola Jokic’s scoring offense strictly came from close to the restricted line, he wouldn’t be nearly the level of player he is today. His outside game has developed tremendously throughout his illustrious career and forces bigger/taller defenders to come out to the 3-point line which opens up so many other things for his team where his IQ and passing skills help him almost always find the open man for a quality look. And if those bigs choose to sag off instead, the Serbian Superstar has no problem draining a deep one right in their face.
ELIMINATING HIS BIGGEST WEAKNESS LED TO CHAMPIONSHIPS
The main thing holding back Nikola Jokic from true superstardom and championship triumph for the majority of his career was his lackluster defense. However, the face of the Denver Nuggets has recently become solid on that side of the ball. He’s clearly invested time and effort into becoming at least a modest defender so he’s no longer abused in the pick-and-roll and teams can’t continuously feast on him in the Postseason like they were doing in the past.
Maintaining his unprecedented production while holding his own on defense is what has made him not only a 2x MVP but now a Finals MVP and the rightful owner of the ‘best player’ crown to solidify who the biggest draft gem in NBA history is. The combination of being the greatest passing big man ever, an extremely high IQ, elite post moves, a consistent shooter, and a developed defender has taken him down Route 23 to go from an irrelevant 41st overall pick to the man who changed the city of Denver forever.
Nikola Jokic's career resume:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 3, 2022
- 4x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA 1st Team, 2020 2nd Team
- 2x NBA MVP; Lowest drafted (41st) ever
- 2016 All-Rookie 1st Team
- 2022 NBA REB (1,019) leader
- 2021 NBA FGM (732) leader
- #Nuggets Triple-Doubles (76) leaderpic.twitter.com/srwa5PFVsN
Nikola Jokic's NBA records:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 3, 2022
- Lowest-drafted (41st) MVP
- Seasons (5) leading team in PTS/REB/AST
- 2,000+ PTS/1,000+ REB/500+ AST during 1 season
- Season of 25+ PPG/12+ RPG/6+ APG or 25+ PPG/8+ APG/55+ FG%
- 5,000 REB & 3,000 AST in 1st 500 GPpic.twitter.com/faRC3kVLjr
Most career Triple-Doubles in Denver #Nuggets history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) September 3, 2022
1. Nikola Jokic (76)^
2. Fat Lever (43)
3. Dikembe Mutombo (8)
4. Alex English (5)
T5. George McGinnis, Robert Pack, Mark Jackson, & Marcus Camby (2)pic.twitter.com/RdRXtArNXw
The real question is what did you think of this Nikola Jokic article?
If you enjoyed it, please share with friends, FOLLOW for more sports content, and comment your thoughts below!
