Sports
The Legend of Nikola Jokic: Dominating the Playoffs and Defying Expectations
As a concept, Nikola Jokic doesn’t make much sense. A player standing at 7 feet tall shouldn’t be able to pass, shoot, and control the game from multiple areas of the floor like Jokic can, especially one who was selected in the second round during a seemingly insignificant commercial break. Gradually, Jokic proved that he could not only prove himself but also dominate and lead his team to the NBA finals.
After Denver Nuggets’ remarkable sweep against the Los Angeles Lakers, Jokic’s signature move – a stepback 3-point shot – has become a defining part of the Jokic experience. LeBron James even tipped his hat to the player who made such a move against him. Throughout the playoffs, Jokic has been delivering breathtaking performances with his triple-double stats and continues to set new records.
Coach Michael Malone laughed at Jokic’s first summer league appearance in Vegas when he was 300 pounds and out of shape. But today, Jokic is one of the best players in the game, dominating every aspect and creating problems for the opposing team. In the Western Conference finals, Jokic brought the Nuggets back from a double-digit deficit, pushing the pace and creating most of Denver’s offense down the stretch. There’s nowhere for a poor defender to hide, but worse than that: there’s no room for a good defender to make a mistake, misread a play, or react a fraction of a second too late.
The least traditional athletic player on the court manages to run it, dominating players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Jokic didn’t just outplay them; he outplayed everyone, beating every scheme and every matchup. No one expected such performance from a second-round pick, but Jokic’s exceptional skills have proven everyone wrong.
The legend of Jokic is growing as he continues to perform beyond expectations. He is the defining player of the Denver Nuggets, changing the team’s fortunes and leading them to the NBA finals.
Credit: theringer.com
