Basketball is a sport of rhythm, not less than for many. Nikola Jokic could make stuff occur when he is off-rhythm (or off-balance; ask Anthony Davis), a uncommon trait that has caught the eye of one of many greats.
Magic Johnson just lately marveled at Jokic’s capacity to dominate video games simply by being on the court docket, be it together with his trickery in shotmaking or his capacity to dissect defenses together with his passing. Johnson in contrast Jokic’s herky-jerky publish strikes to Warriors legend Chris Mullin.
“He is one of the best participant in basketball proper now,” Johnson instructed “Byron Scott’s Fast Break” podcast. “He reads conditions and defenses properly. His basketball IQ is off the charts. After which he beats you as a result of he is off-rhythm like Chris Mullin used to do to us… Joker’s the identical approach, you would be like ‘You are purported to shoot now’ [after the post moves]. He makes use of his physique so properly. He cannot leap however he simply bumps you off and will get his shot off.”
Johnson, although, was unwilling to crown Jokic one of the best middle ever, not over his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“The one factor he cannot do like Kareem is dominate at each ends. That is what’s lacking for him as a result of he is not a giant shot blocker.”
That is a good take by Johnson. Jokic just isn’t a superb rim protector by any stretch, however to his credit score, he has vastly improved in recent times. His protection typically suffers attributable to his power on offense, each as a scorer and facilitator.
Johnson’s admiration for Jokic is comprehensible. Earlier this season, the Nuggets star passed him on the all-time leaderboard for triple-doubles and has since hung one other 21 triple-doubles. The Serb is 22 away from passing Oscar Robertson for second and 44 from teammate Russell Westbrook’s document.
Jokic is about to grow to be the primary participant since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68 to complete a season top-three in factors (29.1), rebounds (12.8) and assists (10.3). He is additionally the primary non-guard to common a triple-double after Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. But, he is not a lock to win MVP, with Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (-900) favored to win the award, per ESPN Bet.
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