thebuzzardman wrote:Clyde_Style wrote:Luv those Knicks wrote:
Yup. Not many saw him play, but he was coordinated and 7-3 and in the NBA, way past his prime he shot 78% from the FT line which was unheard of for a 7 footer back then, and 34% from 3 and he was a natural player and terrific passer.
He's built like a ball player, and even when he was no longer built like that and on bad ankles, he was still pretty good. In his prime he must have been incredible. I don't think it's a stretch to put him up there with David Robinson or Patrick Ewing, and perhaps better.
Some have said he was maybe the best center of all time, but we'll never truly know since his prime was spent playing for Russia.
Probably Jokic with better defense is a comp.
I think we can all say now that Jokic is the best passing center of all time, even above young Sabonis.
Young Sabonis was a force defensively though.
Jokic is underrated on defense but Sabonis was another level.
Jokic now up for debate as best passing forward, if anyone is reluctant to put him in with guards. He's in the conversation of best passer of all time. He's at least in that top 5 list.
I probably should watch more Nuggets games just for the pleasure of watching Jokic operate. He is the best touch passer I have ever seen. He could have the ball in his hands for a fraction of a second before he re-routes it to a teammate in whatever brilliant flick of the wrist it takes to deliver the ball to them instantly. There has rarely been a player with such court awareness combined with his abilities.
If we're talking about bigs like centers and forwards and excluding PGs, then the only people whom I can think of who did some of the things Jokic does would be guys like Bird, Walton, Russell and I'm sure there are a few others. But none of them would do magic tricks a dozen times a game like Jokic.
There's no real reason to compare his passing to PGs at his size. No PG other than maybe Magic had the size to look over everyone and pass from any angle to anywhere on the floor. With his frame and reach, Jokic can direct an offense from a standstill position in the pivot at high post or in the paint without even dribbling. He is Sui Generis.
There are too many defensive greats at his position for him to stack up against, but he holds his own enough that his impact on the offensive end is fairly unprecedented.
Sabonis prime vs. Jokic would certainly have been an entertaining matchup.
Jokic is easily in the top 5 passers of all time. He may be the best, if not now then by the time he is done.
Too bad Jericho Sims didn't grow up playing water volleyball.
