Nikola Jokić and best Bigmen passers of all time

[Sothron]

Jokic is easily the best passing big man of all time. I'm probably one of the few posters here that started watching the NBA in the late 70's. His passing ability is just that good. And yes, he should be an All Star this year.

So, Jokic is averaging the same 5.3APG as Horford this season, Horford has more total assists this season, and Horford is an all star but Jokic is not, but Jokic is not only the best passing big man this year, but of all time.

Horford aside, there's a habit of trying to make current generation players the best of all time. The goat is Lebron, Curry is the best shooter of all time (that may be true), and Jokic is the best bigman passer of all time.

It's real easy to say if you didn't really see much beyond those guys play basketball. More realistically though is to say Jokic is one of the best bigman passers, but that's never stopped anyone here before.

I've watched the NBA since the late 1970's. Jokic is the best passing big man of all time. I feel very confident in saying that. This is the first season the casual fan seems to notice how unreal that kid is. I've seen it since he was a rookie.

[manchambo]

So, Jokic is averaging the same 5.3APG as Horford this season, Horford has more total assists this season, and Horford is an all star but Jokic is not, but Jokic is not only the best passing big man this year, but of all time.

Horford aside, there's a habit of trying to make current generation players the best of all time. The goat is Lebron, Curry is the best shooter of all time (that may be true), and Jokic is the best bigman passer of all time.

It's real easy to say if you didn't really see much beyond those guys play basketball. More realistically though is to say Jokic is one of the best bigman passers, but that's never stopped anyone here before.

I've watched the NBA since the late 1970's. Jokic is the best passing big man of all time. I feel very confident in saying that. This is the first season the casual fan seems to notice how unreal that kid is. I've seen it since he was a rookie.

The stats easily support this. He already ranks third in all time triple doubles by any 7 footer in history. And he's 23 and getting better.

[Mickey8]

Watch on YouTube

For some reason Gibson is allowed to get away with the murder on Jokic when Denver plays Minnesota.

[Infinite Llamas]

Watch on YouTube

For some reason Gibson is allowed to get away with the murder on Jokic when Denver plays Minnesota.

Every night, this guy does something that amazes me

[yellowknifer]

Jokic is on the list of best passers I have seen play. Not just big men. I realize he is still unproven to some degree but if anything he will only get better. He has amazing awareness and vision and accuracy with his passes.

[Riko]

He had a couple of bad TO but that full court pass at 1.00 remaining was nuts.

[Fencer reregistered]

I think of Larry Bird as more of a PF than SF. Obviously, if he counts as a "big" he's very high on the list, probably at #1.

Bigs who've played a little PG include Kevin Garnett, Horford and Bird.

And of course Magic played PF in his post-HIV comeback year. It only lasted 32 games, however, for reasons I've now forgotten.

[MrOrange]

Arvydas Sabonis is the best passing big of all time but I'd put Jokić at #2. He's right up there, too.

Sabonis had 964 total career assists in 7 seasons

Jokic has 782 in 2 1/2 seasons.

Jokic > Sabonis and its not even close

Were you already born when Sabonis played or at least saw him play? Your example is pure "stathead" approach. Sabonis came to the league after heavy injuries well over his prime. He played limited minutes for the Blazers as opposed to the heavy ones played by Jokic. the pure quality of Sabas game/passing was higher than Jokic's. however, Jokic is very close, but no there yet.

[mcmurphy]

How it's possible Jokic foul at 6:07?

Watch on YouTube

[mcmurphy]

Arvydas Sabonis is the best passing big of all time but I'd put Jokić at #2. He's right up there, too.

Sabonis had 964 total career assists in 7 seasons

Jokic has 782 in 2 1/2 seasons.

Jokic > Sabonis and its not even close

Were you already born when Sabonis played or at least saw him play? Your example is pure "stathead" approach. Sabonis came to the league after heavy injuries well over his prime. He played limited minutes for the Blazers as opposed to the heavy ones played by Jokic. the pure quality of Sabas game/passing was higher than Jokic's. however, Jokic is very close, but no there yet.

Sabonis in his prime (before the injuries and Nba) was a monster... maybe a top10 all-time... an overall complete 7'3 player with no weakness (no comparable with Jokic) but if we comparing only the passing game, Jokic is better

p.s.
I remember the European Sabas

[Mickey8]

Watch on YouTube

For some reason Gibson is allowed to get away with the murder on Jokic when Denver plays Minnesota.

Every night, this guy does something that amazes me

This one was in crunch time

[Mickey8]

Arvydas Sabonis is the best passing big of all time but I'd put Jokić at #2. He's right up there, too.

Sabonis had 964 total career assists in 7 seasons

Jokic has 782 in 2 1/2 seasons.

Jokic > Sabonis and its not even close

Were you already born when Sabonis played or at least saw him play? Your example is pure "stathead" approach. Sabonis came to the league after heavy injuries well over his prime. He played limited minutes for the Blazers as opposed to the heavy ones played by Jokic. the pure quality of Sabas game/passing was higher than Jokic's. however, Jokic is very close, but no there yet.

Jokic is throwing PG assists , Sabonis didn't dribble ball across the court and then throwing the pass. Jokic can make any pass in the book off the dribble ,off the pick and roll, off the post up etc. Sabonis is not even close to Jokic as a passer.

[Mickey8]

Watch on YouTube

Another Serbian big with guards skill who's excellent passer . I know this should be in the NBA draft thread but I am comparing him with Jokic little bit , definitely NBA prospect.

[slick_watts]

he's one of the best. i'm not a proponent of evaluating 'passing' solely based on assist totals. that denver has the #2 offense in the nba with their center the defacto floor general says more to me than his assist numbers do.

[The Rebel]

Arvydas Sabonis is the best passing big of all time but I'd put Jokić at #2. He's right up there, too.

Sabonis had 964 total career assists in 7 seasons

Jokic has 782 in 2 1/2 seasons.

Jokic > Sabonis and its not even close

Were you already born when Sabonis played or at least saw him play? Your example is pure "stathead" approach. Sabonis came to the league after heavy injuries well over his prime. He played limited minutes for the Blazers as opposed to the heavy ones played by Jokic. the pure quality of Sabas game/passing was higher than Jokic's. however, Jokic is very close, but no there yet.

I was born, and I watched Sabonis in international competition as well in the NBA, and he is just not as good as Jokic. The only one I ever saw who could pass like Jokic can is Larry Bird, he passes guys open all the time seeing plays before they ever happen. Sabonis was never that good.

[Winglish]

Arvydas Sabonis is the best passing big of all time but I'd put Jokić at #2. He's right up there, too.

Sabonis had 964 total career assists in 7 seasons

Jokic has 782 in 2 1/2 seasons.

Jokic > Sabonis and its not even close

Karl Malone had 1081 assists in a three year span between 2000-2003.

The Mailman had 7 seasons in which he averaged over 4 assists per game and averaged 3.5 for his long career.

Malone has the numbers to make an argument for being included in the conversation as one of the best passing big men of all time.

Charles Barkley averaged 3.9 assists per game for his career, though he never had a 3 year stretch like Malone's.

Those two stand out as a pair of the better passing big men, just for comparison's sake.

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[Sgt Major]

How it's possible Jokic foul at 6:07?

Watch on YouTube

Unbeliveable call.

[Ballerhogger]

His only weakest is his speed and athleticism . Howl he’s top tier passer

[Lala870]

For some reason Gibson is allowed to get away with the murder on Jokic when Denver plays Minnesota.

that winner goes to the playoffs game last year was complete BS for that reason.

[Johnny Firpo]

How it's possible Jokic foul at 6:07?

Watch on YouTube

Unbeliveable call.

Love Jokic, 2nd favorite player, I can see offensive foul. Do you guys honestly don't see it? He doesn't go back up, creates space with his arm/elbow/shoulder (can't see it which body part, but it's obvious that he does).