Nikola Jokic Admits He Patterned His Game After Shaquille O’Neal

Nikola Jokic told Shaquille O'Neal after Game 1 of the NBA Finals that he patterned his game after Shaq.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The NBA Finals are finally underway, with the Denver Nuggets ending the Miami Heat’s Game 1 winning streak by taking a 1-0 lead in this series.

Nikola Jokic was the star man on the night, nabbing a triple-double in his Finals debut and watching his teammates put together strong performances to carry out a straightforward win. He told Shaquille O’Neal that he modeled his game after Shaq in the post-game interview.

Grant Hill: “Growing up overseas, who were the guys that you wanted to pattern your game after?” 

Nikola Jokic: “I think it’s Shaq.” 

Shaquille O’Neal: “Means a lot. Thank you, brother.”

It seems the pair had a joking interaction, given how everyone laughed. There are way too many stylistic differences in their games, with Shaq dominating his era with generational athletic ability while Jokic does it with never-seen-before guard-like skills from a seven-footer.


Nikola Jokic Reaching For The Stars

The 2023 Playoffs have proven Nikola Jokic’s standing as the best player in the world after his usual rivals all failed to take their teams deep into the postseason. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a historic first-round loss to Jokic’s current opponents, Joel Embiid couldn’t close out a 3-2 series lead in the second round, and Stephen Curry lost to LeBron James and Anthony Davis before Jokic beat them both. The Serbian center really might be the last man standing.

Jimmy Butler wasn’t in these conversations throughout the season, but the Heat dismantling teams like the Bucks and Celtics have reminded everyone of his status as a playoff riser. Game 1 was disappointing for him, in addition to no spectacular performances after the first round, averaging 24.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 42.4% in rounds two and three. 

Jokic needs to lead his team to three more wins so we can finally claim there’s an undisputed best player in the NBA, at least until the next season starts in October.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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