Will Nikola Jokic Finish Above Stephen Curry in NBA’s All-Time Greats List When It’s All Done and Dusted?

The Denver Nuggets staged a heroic comeback in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors. The Chase Center only watched in despair. Just 3.6 seconds remained and the fans had their fingers crossed. The ball went into the hands of Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP known to make something out of nothing. Yet this time he was beyond half-court, a territory he isn’t the biggest threat from.

For the watchers, many might have had Jamal Murray to take the final shot given his prowess from the perimeter. However, it came to their best player. A few dribbles and he heaved a hopeful shot. All the eyes followed the trajectory. Somehow, he banked it in. The home team wallowed while Jokic and the Nuggets were in elation.

Once again the ‘best player on the planet’ had found a way from the depths. His championship conquest placed him among the greats. Given his unparalleled traits as a center, he is an unprecedented talent. But like any other era, he isn’t the sole dominator. A Joel Embiid interrupts his path,. But who has the better potential?

Both Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are on track to be all-time greats

On one end we have a big man with skills generally equipped for a guard. Jokic sees the floor like no one ever might have. Passes out of his peripheral vision, clever taps and always knowing the floor, it’s these attributes that allow him to dominate. Of course, those only shine because of his selflessness. If needed, Jokic can be brutal and vicious.

His scoring arsenal contains a three-level mastery. From beyond the arc, his Larry Bird-esque jumper is almost unguardable considering it comes from behind his head! Last year’s WCF showed just how helpless the Lakers were. Even Anthony Davis could only smile because some of those shots were beyond the natural difficulty.

Then again that’s maybe his least reliable option, but even with that, he is consistent. When it comes to being inside the paint, the Joker has the touch of any great traditional center. His post-game is impeccable. Wizardy footwork lets him manipulate his opponents and turn them around like nothing. Brute strength lets him push through, and a delicate touch puts the final touch.

Now we move to Joel Embiid. The Philadelphia 76ers center is leading the league in scoring for the third consecutive season. Each time, his average has jumped. This year, he is putting up 34.8 points every night. His indomitable display has placed the Sixers as legit contenders season after season.

Like Jokic, Embiid has all the offense in the world. He can consistently hit mid-range jumpers, occasionally decides to take the triple, and can flat-out bully opponents in the paint. But he is an even meaner monster than Jokic. While he scores almost 34, as a defender he is a terror to deal with.

Early in his career, he ran for DPOY. However, now he has evolved into a much smarter defender. Instead of chasing every attempt, Embiid is on a hunt. Once the opportunity arises, he latches right on. In those regards, both Embiid and Jokic have their advantages over one another.

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So in this road of greatness, who has the ultimate edge?

A championship is all that matters

This race, it’s closer than people think. Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic have been the face of the league for the good part of four years. As far as assertiveness goes, they are both equals. Jokic is the superior floor general. On the other end, Embiid is a defensive monster – a far better rim protector than Jokic.

If there is one decisive factor that ranks above all – it’s a championship. Last season we might have witnessed one of the best postseasons from any player. The Joker tapped into a reservoir only a certified killer could possibly discover. He broke the record for the most triple-doubles by any player through an entire postseason. He averaged 30. 13.5, and 9.5 through the 20-game stretch. Ultimately, he was rewarded for his unfathomable production with a championship – the first for the city of Denver.

Also, an achievement Joel Embiid is yet to achieve. Apart from the most important trophy, Embiid has crossed up everything. MVP, scoring titles, perennial All-Star, he has it all. But the most challenging test of all is always the playoffs. As far as Embiid goes, there has always been this notion that he underperforms or ‘disappears’ during that time. While not entirely true, we haven’t seen the Cameroonian elevate his game from what it is in the regular season.

Sure, they both are brilliant, in fact, spectacular players. At the end of it all, they will make the prestigious Hall of Fame. However, if there is a world where Embiid ranks above Nikola Jokic, it is only if he has a memorable playoff run capped off with the biggest treasure – the Larry O’Brien.

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Do you think we will see Joel Embiid replicate what the Joker did last season?