Denied $37,020,932 by Nuggets, Nikola Jokic Finds Relief as Celtics Star Thrown Out of Contention but Not Him in Elite Shaquille O?Neal-Led List

Nikola Jokic has become the most underpaid player in the league last season. Following the NBA Finals, his market value is estimated to be approximately $70 million, Jokic is potentially missing out on a significant amount of nearly $37,020,932. He displayed impressive averages of 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, which played a crucial role in securing the 2023 NBA championship. Leading the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever championship, Jokic was awarded the Finals MVP trophy.

According to a basketball analyst, this accomplishment has placed him in a prestigious group of NBA players, including legendary figures like Shaquille O’Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nikola Jokic joins an elite list

Basketball critic and analyst Nick Wright recently praised Nikola Jokic for his dominant performances and labeled him as an all-time great player after less than a decade in the NBA. According to Wright, Jokic’s leadership in guiding his team, the Nuggets, to an NBA title places him among a select group of players who have achieved remarkable success this century by being the leaders of the team.

Wright included Nikola Jokic in a prestigious group of players that consists of Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant,?and Stephen Curry. All of these players played starring roles in leading their respective teams to NBA championships.

However, it is worth noting that Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett, despite winning an NBA title in 2008 and earning MVP honors in the past, was surprisingly omitted from the list. This exclusion came as a surprise given Garnett’s notable achievements and contributions throughout the course of his career. However, Garnett is probably not missing out as much as Jokic himself is!

Read More: Weeks After Getting Demolished by Nuggets, 6?5 Lakers Star Approves Sardonic Video of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray

This season made Jokic the most underpaid star in the league. However, things won’t be the same from next season. Jokic signed a massive 5-year, $276-million contract extension with the Nuggets sometime back, which made it the richest deal in NBA history. This will see the Joker earn $47.6 million next year, bridging the gap between his real value and his salary.

Watch This Story: Nikola Jokic receives a warm welcome by Shaq to the Big Man club