From On-Court Magic to Off-Court Deals, Is Nikola Jokic Heading in Tim Duncan?s Path?

In the NBA, most superstar big men are not idolized as much as guards and forwards. The athletic guards and forwards are quick and bouncy with flashy ball-handling skills and unreal range. The fans love these stars torch their opponents day in and day out and their electric highlights go viral on social media. While big men like Shaquille O’Neal got their fair share of the spotlight for their powerful and disrespectful poster dunks, not everyone is blessed with such prowess. Stars like Tim Duncan and Nikola Jokic fall into this category.

Duncan and Jokic are unstoppable at what they do best. But it is not the flashiest. While Duncan has fans going wild with his impressive blocks, Jokic has his no-look passes that get the crowd going. However, their usually nonchalant personality could be a huge reason why they are overlooked by many.

The curse of big men in the NBA

Superstars like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry are adored by millions of fans around the world. They are some of the biggest earners off the court as well thanks to their popularity. And they are in almost every All-Time greatest players list as well. Like every player, these stars have their strengths and weaknesses as well. However, they are very well-rounded. They can dominate their opponents and come up with clutch plays on both ends of the court. Furthermore, these stars wear their heart on their sleeves.

When the time comes, they rise to the occasion and lead their team to glory in one way or another. The same can be said about Tim Duncan and Nikola Jokic, except they rarely show their emotion and their highlight reel might be a bit shorter. However, there is no denying that they are magicians in their own style.

Despite this, they are not always rated higher. Even though Duncan has five championships, two MVP awards, and three Finals MVPs, he is always snubbed when it comes to the All-Time greatest list. Interestingly, Jokic could be heading in the same direction as well.

Similarities between Nikola Jokic and Tim Duncan

Nikola Jokic is not a typical center of the past. He uses his height and size to his advantage despite his lack of athleticism. His distribution is as good as any high-quality point guard and he can hit three-pointers consistently as well. Even though defense is not considered his best attribute, Jokic still manages decent numbers on the defensive end.

With his impressive abilities, the Serbian finally led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title last year. Notably, Tim Duncan also helped the San Antonio Spurs to win their first-ever ring and kicked off their dynasty. Jokic definitely has a long way to go to match the Hall of Famer. However, he has all the makings.

Jokic and Duncan have very different start to life in the NBA. While Tim was the #1 pick, the Joker was the 41st. However, Duncan and Jokic are the only power forward/center to win back-to-back MVP titles in the last two decades. Furthermore, the Nuggets star was close to winning it for the third straight time last year as well.

Their career numbers are very close as well. Duncan finished his career with 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. Jokic is averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game as per ESPN. However, the star’s numbers could go down as he ages.

Beyond the numbers

The similarities between Nikola Jokic and Tim Duncan go beyond stats as well. In a league where most superstars want to be the man of the team, Duncan and Jokic do not have a problem sharing the spotlight. Duncan has time and again shown this over the years as he shared his responsibilities with other stars like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and so forth even though his numbers went down a bit. The same can be said about Jokic as well. Duncan and Jokic care about the team’s results more than their individual accomplishments.

Furthermore, their marketability is very similar as well. It is no secret that playing for a team in a smaller market can always reduce a player’s marketability. However, Duncan and Jokic’s marketability is very poor. Even though the two stars are loved by fans and the media, they are still not considered marketable. Duncan and Jokic are not just the only power forward/center to win back-to-back MVP titles in the last two decades, they are also the only back-to-back MVPs to not have a proper signature sneaker line.

Nikola Jokic and Tim Duncan’s marketability?

Nikola Jokic and Tim Duncan’s offensive moves might not always be the most exciting. However, it is simple and effective. There is a reason Duncan is called The Big Fundamental. He is automatic when it comes to his iconic bank shot. Similarly, Jokic is unstoppable in his own way as well. But it is not the fanciest and they pay the price off the court with their endorsement deals.

There is a widely accepted opinion that big men can’t sell sneakers. Notably, Duncan had two signature releases: the Nike Air Max Duncan (2000) and the Air Max Duncan II (2002). However, it could have been shaped into a really great series of shoes. Ultimately, his relationship with Nike came to an end. He also had a few exclusive releases with his deal with Adidas as well.

On the other hand, Jokic is yet to have his signature sneaker in an era where signature shoes are the norm for superstars. Interestingly, Nike recently released the signature shoes of young star Ja Morant. On the other hand, the 2x MVP wears Nike’s Air Zoom G.T. Jump. If this continues, there is a possibility that Jokic could opt to sign with another brand like Duncan did. However, this extends beyond the sneaker industry.

Underrated and overlooked?

Tim Duncan made millions with his endorsement deals with some major brands. However, it was substantially low when compared to other superstars. Despite being one of the greatest players ever, Duncan only made $2 million in 2012 as per Forbes. Notably, rookie Andrew Wiggins made more than him that year. The same can be said for Nikola Jokic as well.

Even though he is one of the best players in the league, his income of $2 million from endorsements last year is much lower than other stars. Despite the NBA’s increased popularity in recent years and overall inflation, Jokic is still only earning what Duncan earned 10 years ago. However, it has to be said that the Serbian is one of the highest-paid players when it comes to NBA salary.

Jokic grabbed the headlines for his interesting comments after finally winning the championship. He had a disappointed look on his face when he was told that there would be a victory parade. While he looked like he completely enjoyed the celebrations, fans knew he couldn’t wait to get back to his country. Jokic’s groundedness could be great for his team and his chances of winning multiple rings. However, it does not help his marketability and he might be underrated like Duncan is when it is all said and done.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.