Speaking ahead of the series debut, LeBron James didn’t hold back on praise for Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. After crowning Jokic as one of the all-time greats, LeBron raved about his ability to elevate his teammates.
“He’s one of the best players to ever play this game. It’s that simple. He does everything,” said James vis Michael Scotto. “The most important thing is he changes the way his teammates think about their own play. When you’re able to inspire your teammates to play at a level that sometimes they don’t even feel like they can play at, that’s a true testament of a great one.”
LeBron James on Nikola Jokic: “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game. It’s that simple. He does everything. The most important thing is he changes the way his teammates think about their own play. When you’re able to inspire your teammates to play at a level that… pic.twitter.com/C3pcHxZh89
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 19, 2024
LeBron will face Jokic for the second straight post-season, and he knows all too well the kind of potency he brings to Denver’s offense. Through 79 games this season, the Joker averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game on 58.3% shooting. He’s likely to win his third MVP after leading the Nuggets to a top-three record in the West.
At just 29 years old, Jokic is already on the path to becoming one of the all-time greats, and he proved himself as a winner with last year’s impressive title run. But after tasting ultimate victory, Jokic is not done adding to his resume and LeBron’s Lakers are the next obstacle in his path.
As the 7th seed in the West this season, Los Angeles is not favored to win the series and their 8-game losing streak against the Nuggets does not bode well for their odds of an upset. Even if they can somehow contain the Joker and limit his impact offensively, it may still not be enough to get a win. As one of the best passers and playmakers in basketball, Jokic elevates his teammates to a point where they can still survive when he’s not at his best. Clearly, LeBron is making it a point not to underestimate the defending champs.
Nikola Jokic Is On A Rare Trajectory
Drafted 41st overall in 2014, nobody expected this kind of ascension for Nikola Jokic. After averaging just 10.0 points per game in his rookie season, the Joker would go on to finish 4th in MVP voting by the end of his fourth year. At just 25 years old, he’s already got a stacked trophy case as a 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, 2x MVP, and NBA champion.
Comparatively, LeBron James’ rise to power follows a very similar timeline. After a few exceptional years with the Cavaliers, LeBron asserted himself as an all-time great as he won his first titles with the Miami Heat. Of course, unlike LeBron, he was able to win without having to move and he’s on track to do it again for the second consecutive season.
And while Jokic is still a long way off from catching top-tier guys like Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, or even Kobe Bryant, it might not be long before he’s got enough on his belt to join those conversations.
For now, the only mission for Jokic is to win the championship, and only with continued playoff success can he cement his place as a generational legend in the NBA. At the very least, it seems he’s earned the respect of LeBron James and it will be interesting to see how it plays out when they clash in round one.
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