How good is Jokic? [Poll added]

[First Step]

How good do you think this kid will be? Does he have MVP potential? Is he just going to be an all star that can't lead his team past the 2nd round? Just how good is this kid?

[clyde21]

Perennial MVP candidate level potential if he can stay healthy. Already one of the most impactful players in the entire league. Top 10 in RAPM, RPM, RPM WINS and once he took over at Center the Nuggets instantly became the top offense in the entire league.

[RCM88x]

The only thing keeping him from being the best player in the league in 1-2 years will be his ability to play big minutes in long-physical playoff series. I think he's better than KAT and on a better trajectory that AD or Gobert.

Not to mention that Millsap might be the perfect partner for him in the front court. Denver will be very good this year.

[Nuggets_Talk]

I dont want to exaggerate but he may be the greatest athlete in the history of mankind.

[clyde21]

I dont want to exaggerate but he may be the greatest athlete in the history of mankind.

I can confirm this.

[Chi]

I wouldn't take anyone over Giannis...

[XPeak]

Jokic's averages last year doesn't fully give justice to what actually transpired/happened. He really is all that everyone said he will be during his surprise Rookie Campaign.

After next season he can easily sneak in Top 15 discussion. He is easily Top 10 Fantasy-wise as well.

[Duke4life831]

Hes really really good. Giannis is still the top dog when it comes to the young guys but Jokic isnt far behind him. Id take him over KAT and Embiid without hesitation. If he was American or played for a different team either than Denver, the dude would get talked about a hell of a lot more.

[nomansland]

I love his game and he's a joy to watch but he needs to work on defense just a bit. Still really nice to have a Nugs player in the top player conversation.

[Kupchak9]

I expect by 2019 he'll consistently be a top 5 player for the next 8-10 years. He reminds me of prime Pau, which is amazing because he's only 22!

[Alfred]

He's one of the most exciting players in the league, which is funny because he looks like he's playing in slow motion.

[Dante80]

Jokic has unreal potential. I see him camping on the all-NBA team for a decade if he keeps progressing.

Really needs to work on his defense a little.

[khufure]

speaking of young ones, I wish AD would have a healthy season. but yeah whenever I see Jokic play I'm impressed. kid got hops.

[TroubleS0me]

How good do you think this kid will be? Does he have MVP potential? Is he just going to be an all star that can't lead his team past the 2nd round? Just how good is this kid?

taking shots at CP3 huh?

[Beethoven]

I rather have porzingis

[Pachinko_]

but yeah whenever I see Jokic play I'm impressed. kid got hops.

this is literally the one thing he doesn't have

[Dr Spaceman]

Jokic might be the first player in a long, long time that is just pure untapped potential. He reminds me of Steph Curry in the sense that he's such an outlier in terms of NBA history that putting a ceiling on him at this point is just a bad bet. We've seen a big man in his prime with this type of playmaking vision exactly once, in the form of Bill Walton, who looked like he was ready to lead a dynasty in a league with prime Kareem if injuries didn't ruin him. We missed out on prime Sabonis, but Jokic seems like the continuation of that lineage.

His defense will be a problem. But he looks to be the type of talent that could compete for multiple MVPs if he's healthy, and the offensive ceiling of a team with lots of perimeter shooting surrounding a high post playmaker is as yet untapped, but based on what we see from peak Garnett and Draymond the future looks damn bright.

[76ciology]

Like Wilt but with passing ability of Rondo

[Kabookalu]

As a center, and the offensive hub of his team no less, he averaged 5.3apg. That's insane. Some point guards don't even average that even going by per 36. I mean it was impressive that Andrew Bogut was putting up 3apg in his prime. Centers just don't have the opportunities to rack up assists the way every other position can. They're usually not running the pick and roll because they're usually the ones setting the pick, and they're usually not on the perimeter where they have a clear view of the entirety of the court to take advantage of missteps from the defense. Jokic is capable but it's not like he spends a good chunk of his time on the perimeter like some other good passing big men.

And this skill alone has completely morphed the dynamics of the game whenever he plays. Defenses are always stuck to their assignments like glue in fear of Jokic making them look like fools with a backdoor cut, and sometimes he's able to make the pass anyways. I have no proof of this but I bet you that this has late game ramifications as the entire defense is a tiny bit more tired both physically and mentally because they've never had to defend the way they did against a Jokic centered team.

Vlade Divac averaged 5.3apg once too. I'm more impressed with Jokic though because Divac did it in a system that completely took advantage of his gifts. Jokic, it's not like he's being held back, but it's not like it's utilizing his abilities to the max either. Plus the year Divac put up 5.3apg, Peja was an MVP candidate averaging 24ppg on amazing efficiency. Make a pass to him and he was automatic from anywhere around the court. No disrespect to Vlade, he was one of the most talented passing centers of all time, just that I believe Jokic is better.

[mcmurphy]

Attention to Nikola "Rocky Balboa" Jokic offseason

Watch on YouTube

Apart from jokes, it seems that he has taken his physical preparation very seriously this offseason (renounce to NT must have been a very painful decision)

Last season was a Top15 player... this season with a better physical condition (and consequently better defense) will be Top5