Jokic shows an unprecedented show: The clumsiest monster since Dirk Nowitzki

Clumsy, slow, Nikola Jokic. The Serbian NBA star is reminiscent of Mesut Özil’s body language – but dominates the playoffs with the Denver Nuggets monstrously like no other. Why is the unsportsmanlike-looking giant, who now has a big mission, so good?

This team is built for the NBA title. At least on the way to the final nobody will be able to stop the team. Almost all experts agree on that. We’re talking about the Phoenix Suns. After the signing of megastar Kevin Durant mid-season, the team around Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton is chosen as his super team. Anything other than the finals was considered a failure.

But none of them have reckoned with the lumbering, clumsy monster from the depths of south-eastern Europe. With Nikola Jokic. The Serb has been one of the best basketball players in the world for years, but due to his lack of athleticism he is still not perceived as an absolute superstar. And his Denver Nuggets are underestimated even in the playoffs after having the best points haul in the west in the regular season. Now the Nuggets are just one step away from the NBA Finals after overwhelming the Suns 125-100 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, beating Phoenix 4-2.

The Arizona team is faring like so many teams this year. She just has no answer for Jokic, who is averaging a triple-double (double digits in three statistical categories each) with 30 points against the Suns. On Thursday night, the 28-year-old ended a phenomenal streak with his third triple-double in four games – 32 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds – and hitting 13 of 18 shots.

Jokic with shoulders like Mesut Özil

Jokic, after all two-time MVP in 2021 and 2022 and also one of three candidates in the MVP race this year, that’s for sure, is not the superstar à la LeBron James or Stephen Curry, which they like to plaster on huge billboards in the USA. On the one hand, because Denver is a small market and not one of the pompous teams from California or the East Coast. On the other hand, because Jokic is almost as little “flashy” and athletic as Dirk Nowitzki in his last years in the NBA (no criticism of the champion of 2011, who pulled the basket quite elegantly in his younger years, but later declared himself not the most athletic being a basketball player).

Some NBA pros, most notably James for two decades, seem to defy the laws of physics with their athleticism. But Jokic is not fast. He is neither particularly muscular nor strong. Seems simply inflexible. Slow-footed and ponderous. Similar to football, ex-national player Mesut Özil, Jokic sneaks across the court with slumped shoulders and bedroom eyes, often looking exhausted. When he sets out for a three-pointer, he pulls up his massive 84-inch tall, 275-pound body (formerly classified as “obese”), according to Wikipedia, almost in slow motion, casually flicking his wrist as if the basketball game would just interrupt his day of relaxation. When the ball whizzes through the net, Jokic trotts back into his own half with a stoic expression on his face.

He is funny and popular away from the parquet. Known as “Joker” because of his jokes, the Serb, who would rather take care of his horses than an Instagram account, even plays with his sometimes clumsy-looking game. “We’re similar in terms of game and speed, but he’s a few years older than me and I don’t know if he can jump as high as me,” Jokic once said of LeBron James. Only to quickly add with a laugh, “No no, I’m just kidding, of course.”

“Joker is the best non-athletic, non-fast, non-powerful center I’ve seen in my life. He scores 40 points but plays like a simple guy in the park,” said center legend Shaquille O’Neal recently : “I’m watching his game and I’m like, ‘Damn, man’. I haven’t seen this man jump yet. He’s just getting five rebounds on tiptoe.”

“Generationentalent” Jokic

Athletics or not, Jokic might just be the greatest non-athletic athlete of all time. For years, the Serb has been delivering a show that the NBA has never seen before. Every night he impresses with basketball in a way no one of his size and build has done before. It’s true that he’s not the superstar who gets the glare of the spotlight. But some in the league have long bowed to the Joker and his seemingly endless toolbox.

His coach Mike Malone calls him a “generational talent”. Trainer legend Gregg Popovich from the San Antonio Spurs thinks he’s “too damn good” that it’s just “not fair”. And NBA icon Charles Barkley, who was one of the few experts to bet on Denver before the series against the Suns, praised a few days ago after Jokic had just fought the Nuggets with 39 points and 16 rebounds for a 2-0 lead against the Suns : “I just have to tell people, let’s enjoy the ‘greatness’ when we see this ‘Joker’ play.”

This awesomeness looks like this. Jokic can do almost anything on the basketball court. Especially offensive. He can take over a game. He can beat his opponents in many ways. Points, assists, rebounds. Jokic usually leads all players on the floor equally in all three categories. But not only that, it’s the way he directs the game, elevates his teammates and makes them better, and imposes his will on the other team. Every wave of attack runs over the Serbs, with enormous game intelligence, a fine feel for the ball and great footwork and footwork, he dissects opposing defenses. When it comes to skill, anticipation and making the right decisions, he is second to none.

Above all, his passing game is often highlighted. Jokic, who sees himself as a point guard in the body of a Big Man, is arguably the best center passer in league history. He even leads all players in the NBA in passing in the last three seasons by a wide margin. Jokic is known for his exceptional vision of the field, his accuracy with even the most difficult passes and his ability to find open teammates.

Throws like Nowitzki

Few true big men in NBA history have averaged six or more assists per game for an entire season. Jokic averaged almost ten this season. The Nuggets’ ability to direct their offense via Jokic leads to plays that opposing defenses are often unprepared for. The Serb pushes opposing centres, which are usually the linchpin of defense, away from the basket, opening up attacking avenues and space for the rest of the offense.

This point also connects Jokic with Nowitzki, who was a figurehead for the effect of this so-called Big Man Spacing in the 2000s. Despite his 85-inch height, Nowitzki was one of the best shooters in the NBA, and Jokic now possesses that Nowitzki’esque ability to throw shots from the three-point line (even dribbled, which wasn’t the German’s thing), middle distance and am to meet basket. His patented “Sombor Shuffle” is also based on Nowitzki’s one-legged flamingo throw.

The Serb even made history this year thanks to his throwing power and passing accuracy, overtaking the legend Wilt Chamberlain (the only one to score 100 points in a game) and creating the most triple-doubles by a center in NBA playoff history. He also becomes the third player in NBA history to have a 30-point average triple-double in a playoff series.

Jokic is unstoppable. Since ‘greatness’ is inevitable. He’s so good at all of his games that dominance becomes routine. This is another reason why his nuggets are sometimes underestimated. “Jokic is practically indefensible,” analyzed ex-pro Jalen Rose at ESPN, as Denver was already walking towards the West Finals with 30 points at halftime against the Suns.

Because the Serb can actually play any position on the field. One of the Nuggets’ most effective plays is for Jokic to get the ball at the free-throw line or above at the three-point line and have the entire field at his disposal. When a doubles team comes along, Jokic casually finds shooters or players heading for the basket. When he’s being marked alone, Jokic just walks towards the defender or shoots over him. He doesn’t move fast. But he always runs exactly where he has to go – or he makes sure that the ball gets there.

Mission against James or Curry

“Complete mastery,” sees Mike Greenberg, an expert at the US broadcaster ESPN, on Thursday evening. Because that’s what Jokic does. For years. He dominates almost any opponent at will. Nevertheless, he repeatedly receives criticism from fans and experts. It is said that he is a regular season star. One who could not build on his performances from regular time in the playoffs and could not lead his team to the title.

Now his nuggets are in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in four years. This time the journey of the Southeast European monster should not end there. Jokic is on a mission. All season long. The goal is the NBA title. The first of the nuggets ever.

In 2020, Denver stumbled in the west final over the Los Angeles Lakers, who could also be the opponent this time. If it doesn’t become the defending champion, the Golden State Warriors, who knocked out the Nuggets in the first round last year. Then all eyes will be on LeBron James’ incredible athleticism or Steph Curry’s three-point spectacle. While a slow-footed and lumbering man named Nikola Jokic seeks revenge and dominates in an awkward and silent, but historic fashion. With one of the best shows that the sport is currently seeing.