LeBron James lavished admiration on Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic in remarks made prior to the team’s debut in the new series. LeBron praised Jokic for elevating his teammates after declaring him to be one of the all-time greats.
He’s among the greatest players who have ever played this match. It really is that easy. He takes care of everything,” James remarked of Michael Scotto. “What matters most is that he alters his colleagues’ perceptions of their own performances. A strong leader is demonstrated by their ability to motivate their teammates to perform at a level that they occasionally don’t even believe they are capable of.
For the second consecutive postseason, LeBron will take against Jokic, and he is well aware of the kind of potency he provides to Denver’s offense. The Joker has played in 79 games this season, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists on 58.3% shooting per contest. After leading the Nuggets to a top-three finish in the West, he is probably going to win his third MVP award.
Jokic is only 29 years old, but he’s well on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats, and his thrilling championship run last year validated his abilities. Nevertheless, Jokic is not done building his résumé after experiencing the ultimate triumph, and LeBron’s Lakers represent his next challenge.
Los Angeles is not favored to win the series because they are the 7th seed in the West this year, and their 8-game losing run versus the Nuggets does not look well for them if they want to pull an upset. It might not be enough to win even if they can somehow stop the Joker and lessen his attacking influence. Jokic is one of the best passers and playmakers in the game, even when he’s not playing at his best, he still makes his teammates win. LeBron is obviously making it a point to respect the reigning champions.
Nikola Jokic Is Following An Uncommon Path
When Nikola Jokic was drafted 41st overall in 2014, nobody anticipated his meteoric rise. By the end of his fourth season, the Joker had improved from his rookie season, when he had only averaged 10.0 points per game, to fourth place in the MVP voting. He is only 25 years old, but already he has a stacked trophy cabinet as an NBA champion, two MVPs, five All-Stars, and six All-Star selections.
Even though Jokic is still far from matching elite players like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, or Michael Jordan, it might not be long until he gains enough experience to be discussed in the same circles.
Jokic’s ultimate goal at this point is to win the title; he can only become an NBA legend of a new generation if he continues to have playoff success. If nothing else, it appears that he has gained LeBron James’ respect, and it will be intriguing to watch how things work out when they face off in the first round.