Nikola Jokic is averaging a triple-double in the playoffs, currently, just three wins away from his first NBA championship. The Denver Nuggets star has taken the next step after winning consecutive MVPs, he is on his way to the ultimate prize.
What makes Nikola Jokic so good is how unique his skillset is. His passing, shot selection, and decision-making on offense are all elite. And despite them playing a long time ago, he once revealed the impact of watching Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Hakeem Olajuwon on YouTube as a teenager.
“Growing up, I watch the national teams, because when you’re a kid in Serbia, that’s your goal. I didn’t follow that much NBA because, in Serbia, the games are on at 3 and 4 AM,” Jokic wrote for the Player’s Tribune in 2016. “When YouTube came out when I was like 15, I watched Magic because of his passing, Hakeem because of his post moves, and Jordan because he is Jordan.”
He has incorporated Magic Johnson’s passing into his game despite being a center, and his post moves are as nifty and unstoppable as Hakeem Olajuwon’s in a lot of ways as well. And while he didn’t have it till now, if he can close this series against the Heat out, he will have found the X-factor that made Michael Jordan so crucial to winning and who he was as well.
Nikola Jokic Has Been On A Different Level In These Playoffs
Nikola Jokic was denied his third consecutive regular season MVP in favor of Joel Embiid. One of the narratives against him was the lack of postseason success. But now, he is showing that he is more than capable of winning it all. In the playoffs this season, he is averaging 29.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 10.5 assists, all while shooting 47.5% from three-point range. It is nothing short of spectacular.
And in the process, he is also making history. He became just the second player ever to notch a triple-double on their NBA Finals debut, and he is on his way to becoming the first player in 60 years to average a 30-point triple-double in the playoffs. Jokic winning the Finals MVP and the championship would also finally put him at the starting line when it comes to comparisons with legendary players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
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