Should Nikola Jokic Be Considered a Top-10 Player in the History of the NBA?

Nikola Jokic wasn’t meant to be the poster boy. He didn’t have any superstar expectations. Drafted during a literal Taco Bell commercial, the Joker wasn’t known until he saw a preseason game. From there, it brewed undoubtedly an all-time great. A slow-moving, almost lethargic boasting a body nowhere recognizable as a basketball player. Yet hidden was a star with unparalleled vision and a genius IQ.

When he arrived in 2014, Jokic distinguished himself from other centers. He instantly showed a flawless instinct for finding open teammates. It wasn’t as prolific to begin, but slowly he took the reins. The Denver Nuggets offense became one of the most fluent systems once they realized the power Nikola Jokic holds. Slowly, they started growing around him – Jamal Murray, MPJ, Aaron Gordon, and such players came together. Now at his peak, he won two back-to-back MVP awards and is regarded as the best player on the planet.

The Joker has already, in a relatively young career painted a colorful resume. An unseen force at the center who has forever transcended the position. After the championship conquest last season – rings of all-time greatness have started to ring.

Nikola Jokic is an alien when unleashed completely

You don’t associate with Jokic being an aggressive player. He is an offensive juggernaut no doubt. But because of the quality help around him, he has never had to go all out. We saw monster triple-doubles on a nightly basis from him. The Serbian has already notched up the second most in NBA history. Yet he always held back due to his selflessness to involve his teammates. This left a wild thought, just what can Jokic do if he needs to go all out every night?

We are seeing him on full throttle this season where the Nuggets have been hit with an injury plague. He is averaging a career-high in all major stats, single-handedly dragging the Nuggets into safe territory. 30 points and 15 assists have become a frequent stat line for the Joker. His elegant post-game and the unshakable sombor shuffle make him almost unstoppable as a scorer. It’s just that he chooses to pass rather than take the onus and keep scoring.

“Yeah one thing about Nikola is he takes great satisfaction in making plays for others. He really does. I think he takes more joy in that. I don’t think he cares if he scored 27 points or not. He cares that we’re up 1-0” admitted Murray after Jokic’s historic triple-double in his NBA Finals debut.

His impact comes with how the defense reacts. If they charge at him, he will spot an open man with no difficulty. If they want to take away his ability to be a general, the Joker will play all his moves as a scoring powerhouse. He is a titan no matter what. And while he isn’t revered for his defense, Jokic manages to step up in crucial moments to seal games for Denver.

There is no stopping Jokic any time soon

Every year we see some outrageous stat regarding Nikola Jokic. Let’s take last season as an exhibit. Without their primal force, the Nuggets were outscored by 319 points according to Inpredictable. His ultimate difference amounted to 960 points. That’s his power, an influence that literally carries the hopes of an entire franchise.

This year is no different. He is steering the ship in the absence of some key role players. The Joker has a simple policy, he will do whatever is necessary no matter how precarious the task may be. Herculean is an understatement for what he is doing right now. Jokic leads the league in total points, rebounds, and assists. In 20 games, he has already contributed to 4.6 win shares which is another league high.

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It was scary to imagine Nikola Jokic could get any better than he was last season. It turns out that was him being according to his natural character. Now the NBA is realising that if the beast within is let loose, his impact is astounding.. mediocre even.

Not yet top 10, but the Joker will surely be there

Jokic is only 28 years old. He has won two regular season MVPs, one of only 13 to have done so in NBA history. He is fast closing in on Russell Westbrook to eventually be the all-time triple-double leader. Finally, he got his crowning moment, an essential trophy for any GOAT-caliber megastar – an NBA championship. He made Mile High City a paradise when he dismantled the Miami Heat in last year’s NBA Finals. It cleared the fog when it came to Jokic persevering in times of unimaginable pressure.

He has achieved almost every major award, and he is only just getting in his prime. He entered the all-time list as soon as he hoisted the Finals MVP trophy. It proved that Jokic is great in the regular season, but he is levels above when it matters the most. For a center, there has never been anyone like him, gifted as a scorer and the heart of an offense. He culminates what a point guard and a center would look like. Imagine a 7-foot Magic Johnson, that’s what Nikola Jokic is at this very moment.

However, the top 10 is a prestigious honor reserved for those who broke the shackles and did it for a long time. For now, a top 20 list can easily include Jokic. But to be one of the 10 greatest will need him to do more. Another championship, permanent consistency, and more of his baffling performances. You have to remember, there is a lot more to see from the Joker.

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He might be the biggest steal of any draft ever. As far as Top 10, Nikola Jokic is knocking on the door. Each season, the echoes grow stronger and creep closer. Once Jokic is done, we can’t deny it, someone needs to jump off the list and make place for the Serbian center.