How great is Nikola Jokić, really?

With everything he’s doing, I think we’re slowly starting to take it for granted. He has entered the LeBron conversation. Wendy will surely talk about Jokic’s numbers — and the fact that he has sustained this level of dominance for half a decade in the MVP race.

The numbers are unbelievable, but because Jokic produces them so often and so effortlessly, many people no longer fully appreciate or respect what they’re seeing.

Think about this: a 41st overall pick, announced during a Taco Bell commercial, now putting up numbers that belong next to Jordan, LeBron, and Kareem.
And he’s doing it without jumping, without explosive athleticism, without the so-called “God-given gifts” we once believed were mandatory for greatness.

But here’s what very few people are connecting about Nikola Jokic right now.
👉 Wait until you look at the statistical category where he ranks No. 1 in all of NBA history — and why that single metric may prove he’s already top 10 all-time.

A rise that defies logic

Jokic’s career doesn’t make sense on paper.
Nothing about his early years suggested an all-time great. No hype. No spotlight. No ESPN cameras waiting to break down his game.

But the moment Jokic received real playing time in Denver, everything changed.
The Nuggets’ offense completely transformed. A franchise without a superstar for years suddenly played with rhythm, flow, and perfect spacing.
And at the center of it all was a guy who looked like he had just rolled out of bed.

His rookie flashes were subtle: a soft touch here, a read there, a pass nobody else saw.
But as Jokic grew, everything around him grew too.
By year three, the numbers were impossible to ignore: elite efficiency, elite passing, elite impact — and a style of play we had never seen before.

Jokic redefined the center position

Centers used to be rim protectors, low-post scorers, or rebounding machines.
But Jokic became something entirely different:

A point center

An offensive floor general

A 7-foot offensive engine with a skill set that shouldn’t exist

He has the passing vision of an elite guard and the scoring touch of a superstar.
The NBA has seen Shaq’s power, Hakeem’s footwork, and Kareem’s skyhook.
👉 But no one has ever combined the full package of skills Jokic possesses.

His touch is so soft that every shot near the rim looks like it’s floating on a pillow.
One-handed push shots, flip shots, awkward angles — all dropping like he’s programmed.

And let’s be honest: this isn’t just passing.
This is mind-reading.
He throws passes before teammates realize they’re open.
Backdoor cuts turn into automatic points.
Defenders are embarrassed by passes that seem to violate physics.

Winning with intelligence, not athleticism

Jokic doesn’t win with speed. He doesn’t win with vertical explosion.
He wins with calculation, timing, precision, and feel.

Watching Jokic feels like he sees the game two seconds ahead of everyone else.
He’s operating on a completely different timeline.

The numbers… are insane

3-time MVP (nearly 5)

2023 NBA Champion and Finals MVP

Multiple seasons averaging 27–12–9

Multiple seasons shooting over 60% from the field

League-leading advanced metrics year after year

Jokic has more triple-doubles as a center than any player in NBA history.
He has more triple-doubles than most guards in the league.
He has more 30-point triple-doubles than entire franchises have in their history.

👉 He is the only center in NBA history to average:

25+ points

10+ rebounds

8+ assists

55% field-goal shooting

Not Wilt. Not Hakeem. Not Shaq.
No one has ever done it.

When Jokic is on the floor, Denver outscores opponents by double digits.
When he sits, the Nuggets collapse — and this pattern has repeated for years.

In Win Shares, BPM, EPM, and on/off net rating, Jokic ranks No. 1 or No. 2 consistently.
These numbers place him alongside Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, and Wilt.

2023 Playoffs: the end of all doubt

4–1 vs Timberwolves

4–2 vs Suns

4–0 vs Lakers

4–1 vs Heat

Jokic averaged:

30+ points

13.5 rebounds

9.5 assists

54% FG

46% from three

He became the first player in NBA history to lead an entire postseason in points, rebounds, and assists.

No screaming. No flexing.
Just cold, methodical dominance.

Final thoughts

Nikola Jokic:

A 41st pick

Announced during a Taco Bell commercial

Now producing a statistical peak comparable to Jordan, LeBron, and Kareem

Possessing a basketball IQ we’ve never seen before

👉 Here’s the real question:
If Jokic wins one more MVP and one more championship in the next three years,
does he automatically enter the top 10 players of all time?
Or does he still need more hardware?

Jokic’s legacy is being written right in front of us.