The Denver Nuggets and their talismanic center Nikola Jokic have been sensational in the NBA for the last few years. The Serbian superstar has won back-to-back Most Valuable Player Awards and heading into the new season, they are going to be a real deal in the Championship race. Despite his efforts, People overlooked at the minute details on Jokic’s game like his defense or his Basketball IQ.
Recently in the new episode of ‘The DNBA Show’ former NBA champion and Analyst Kendrick Perkins made some lofty comments about the Nuggets center. Perkins feels that Jokic is easily one of the most skilled centers that the league has ever seen. His claims even made him compare Jokic with Hakeem Olajuwon but the former Celtics center stood rigid to his point regarding the Joker.
“I actually think Jokic is the best or one of the most skilled big men to ever play the game,” Perkins said. “And we’ll talk about, like, I’m comparing him up there with Hakeem Olajuwon. I already feel like he’s the best passing big man. Some people are saying, oh, Jokic is not that great of a defender. Well, those people are wrong.”
There is a notion that as Jokic is a big man, he is not agile enough to be a good defender but Perkins broke that myth by highlighting points that show how good the Nuggets superstar is in defense especially in pick and rolls.
“He’s pretty agile when it comes to switching pick and rolls, and he’s pretty good in actual drop coverage in the pick and roll. He’s good at relocating his man, things to that nature, you know, and I watch him, and I say, you know what, his IQ is probably one of the best in the game,” Perkins added.
While his statistics are right up there with the best players, people still have their doubts of him being a very versatile player. Jokic last season averaged 26.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game with a 36% shooting from the three point range.
Jokic who is currently 27 needs to finally get his act together and prove to the world that he is not someone messing around in the league. Despite winning consecutive MVPs, the Nuggets have not managed to pose a real title threat. Something that Jokic will look to change in the upcoming season.
