Nikola may not be athletic but his basketball IQ is on par with the greatest players ever.
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is just one of only nine players in NBA history to win the MVP award at least three times. Only “The Joker” and LeBron James, who has four, have accomplished the feat among current players.
However, while James is easily considered a GOAT contender, Jokic isn’t held in the same regard. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith explained why during his recent appearance on the “Full Send Podcast.”
“He’s a phenomenal basketball player,” began Smith. “But primarily because of his IQ, because he really, really, really knows how to play. But he can’t jump onto a curb, and when we look at basketball players, the first word that comes to our mouth is athleticism.”
Jokic is not athletic
When you look at Nikola, he’s not only unathletic but he is the complete opposite. “The Joker” is big, strong, slow, and flat-footed. As Smith said, he doesn’t have a six-pack and isn’t stilt-built. Jokic simply does not have Michael Jordan’s hang-time or Vince Carter’s jumping ability.
But the Serbian knows how to play and does so very well. Nikola is very good at hiding his weaknesses and using his strengths. Stephen A. also believes that Jokic has an all-time great basketball IQ.
“There’s greats like Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and the Isiah Thomases of the world, various others,” added Stephen A. “Michael Jordan had a high basketball IQ. I don’t know if we could say anyone had a higher IQ than LeBron. But Jokic is definitely up there.”
Vlade crowns Jokic as the best European player ever
But while NBA analysts like Stephen A. continue to discuss Nikola’s place among the game’s all-time greats, former Los Angeles Lakers big man Vlade Divac believes that his Serbian comrade is, without doubt, the greatest European basketball player ever to play the game.
“The numbers say so,” said Divac. “The results confirm it. And the essence of sports is results. Based on that, I think there’s no room for doubt.”
“The Joker” is the first European to win the MVP award three times. The Nuggets center and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to finish in the top 5 in points, rebounds, and assists during the same season.
Nikola and “The Big O” are also the only players to record 2000+ points, 900+ rebounds, and 600+ assists in the same season. By being in the company of those names, “The Joker” clearly makes a case for being among the best players of all time, even if he isn’t athletic.