Nikola Jokic has already become one of the best players in the NBA after his impressive performances with the Denver Nuggets. The Serbian big man has improved his level season after season. As a result, he is now considered the clear favorite to win the 2021 NBA MVP award.
Nikola didn’t enter the league with a lot of expectations around him. But, his hard work, his skills, and love for the game have taken him to where he is right now. That’s why a former coach drew a big comparison for the 26-year-old.
George Karl is very active on social media, and he recently praised Nikola, comparing him to one of the greatest big men of all time: Tim Duncan.
“Jokic is the modern era Tim Duncan. And that’s a helluva player to be!” Karl tweeted earlier this week.
Jokic is the modern era Tim Duncan. And that’s a helluva player to be!
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 5, 2021
TD is widely regarded as the greatest power forward of all time and it should be an honor for Jokic to be compared to him. But, not everybody agreed with the coach. Some fans pointed out that Jokic still has a long way to go before being compared to the San Antonio Spurs legend. In contrast, others explained that Jokic is different from anything we’ve seen in the league before.
Tim Duncan never averaged more than 1 steal per game. Jokic has every season except one. I think Duncan is a much better defender, but it’s closer than most people think pic.twitter.com/fWyupkq26q
— sam (@highschooharry) May 5, 2021
Let's stop the comparisons, Jokic is the first kind of a point center, he basically reinvented the foundation of the center position. Jokic is a helluva player to be! Let's not compare him to others, he's one of a kind!
— belegendary96 (@opacic1996) May 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/AnjoMendoza10/status/1390120056009347072
IMO Joker is the most skilled and well rounded big man to ever play the game. He can hit you in every way. RAPTORS FAN
— PB 'n 'nanner (@Rea1Talk) May 5, 2021
He's Marc Gasol with more freedom on offense and a worse defender. No shade at all, but if you put prime Marc Gasol with this Nuggets team and the freedom Jokic has, can say with Marc's defensive IQ they might be slightly better. More a compliment of Marc than anything.
— Didedodat (@didedodat) May 5, 2021
He’s a better creator than Timmy but Duncan is a more punishing scorer..I think you can pound on Jokic but you couldn’t bang Duncan and win
— shawndon (@donlea_shawn) May 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/DeraunJamar/status/1390082327401873409https://twitter.com/see_you_dawg/status/1390041886707027974
The things Jokic is doing on the floor are incredible and proof of that is his MVP-caliber season. He’s reaching the next level this season and if the Nuggets have a chance to compete in the West, that is thanks to the center.
Comparisons will always be hateful, but Karl knows what he’s talking about. He’s not the first player that gets compared to TD, but he needs to prove that he’s good enough to be compared to one of the best bigs the game has ever seen.
