BASKETBALL
Magic Johnson puts Jokic in same breath as Jordan, Kobe and other legends
May 24, 2023, 4:00 PM
Owner Magic Johnson attends the game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx at Crypto.com Arena on May 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic is on an all-time postseason run for the Denver Nuggets.
By capturing his eighth triple-double of the playoffs in Game 4 against the Lakers, Jokic set the record for the most in a single postseason, passing some guy named Wilt Chamberlain. You may have heard of him.
And Jokic’s numbers in the playoffs are just silly. In 15 games, he’s averaging 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists. Against the Lakers in the Western Conference finals, two of those stats were even better.
In the four-game sweep, Jokic went for 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists. He had a triple-double in three of the four victories.
His performance is turning a lot of heads, and rightfully so, but the biggest praise yet may have come from an all-time NBA legend. Magic Johnson put Jokic in the same breath as some of the top basketball players in history.
The Joker is changing the game of basketball right before our very eyes much like Michael, Larry, LeBron, Steph, Kobe, Kareem, and Shaq.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 24, 2023
Wow! Johnson’s Twitter is known for his straight-to-the-point tweets, and he’s not messing around here.
To say Jokic is “changing the game” like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal is wild. Those are literally the best to ever do it, while a few other guys belong on the list, including Magic himself.
But it feels like it’s not hyperbole to throw Jokic in those conversations. He won back-to-back MVPs, and clearly should’ve won three straight if the playoffs are any indication. He’s also four wins away from his first championship, the ultimate measure of success in the NBA.
We already know he’s one of the best big men of all-time, but could Jokic be trending toward being one of the best players of all-time? If you read that tweet from Magic Johnson, it looks like he’s headed that direction.
This story was first published by Sactown Sports‘ sister station, Denver Sports. Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
