Panathinaikos B.C. owner and former president Dimitris Giannakopoulos recently said that Nikola Jokic is the best player in basketball history since Michael Jordan. It is high praise from the basketball executive and a great seal of approval from a powerful figure in European basketball, where Jokic made his name prior to the NBA.
“Jokic is the best player after MJ [Michael Jordan].”
👀🇷🇸 Panathinaikos president Dimitris Giannakopoulos believes that excluding Michael Jordan, Nikola Jokic is the best basketball player ever! pic.twitter.com/LKvp7rJC42
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 13, 2024
Nikola Jokic is building a case for himself to be considered the greatest European player in history. In the 10 years that Jokic has been in the NBA, he has amassed an incredible resume and established himself as a perennial All-Star and superstar. If his career continues on the same trajectory, it will be hard to argue against him being the greatest European player of all time.
In the 10 years that Jokic has been in the NBA, he has won an NBA championship and Finals MVP, been a three-time regular season MVP, and been named to six All-Star and All-NBA teams in his career. His time with the Nuggets has been very successful, with him bringing the franchise their first championship in history.
Nikola Jokic also has a stellar record in Europe. He was named the ABA MVP in 2015, and the ABA Prospect of the Year in 2015. He’s been named the Serbian Player of the Year three times, in 2018, 2021, and 2022. And last week, he led Serbia to the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But even with all of his accomplishments, to suggest that Jokic is the best player in history after Michael Jordan is a bit hyperbolic. No doubt, Jokic is one of, if not the best player in the world right now, but there are so many other players who have achieved just as much, if not more than Jokic has and have done so at a higher level than he has.
Nikola Jokic Still Building His Legacy
Nikola Jokic still has a lot of time to add to his legacy, as he is still in his prime, and can win more championships and individual accolades. Jokic is on the Nuggets, and they are still one of the favorites to emerge from the Western Conference, despite not having the same roster they did over the last few years.
The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, and have seemingly replaced him with Russell Westbrook. History has shown that a team doesn’t necessarily find success after replacing KCP with Westbrook, as the Lakers found out in 2022. But Westbrook has shown a willingness to play whatever role his team needs him to, as we saw on the Clippers.
But Jokic is still at the peak of his powers, coming off a third MVP win last season. If he continues to play at the highest level, he and the Nuggets absolutely have a chance to win the NBA championship next season. But in what is a tougher Western Conference, the Nuggets will have to take their game to another level next year.
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