Yep, I don't think even Larry Bird does the things that Jokic does well. Jokic is a center and Bird was a forward. Jokic plays like a true center with his post move, with power, height and touch. And he barely dribbles. Because he's a center he's not only making passes from the post. He's also a big presence as a screener. Bird was more of a forward, still. Even with the similarities.
@@yunan9610 Larry Bird was a post monster and also relied on less dribbling, he was usually get ball, quick dribble, shot up. Also screened for other players after passes. Everything you describe, Bird did: th-cam.com/video/S8n5tPbWB50/w-d-xo.html
@@yunan9610 Jokic barely dribbles? Have you seen him running the plays as a point guard, dribbling during the fastbreaks, taking 5+ dribbles in the post?
Jokic is a slower Bird. He's proof that bird would do even better now, not worse. Bird's hustle and motor. The fact that he beat some of the best ever. Win% only 10 games behind magic in the toughest era, in the toughest conference era of all time.
They both have their unique moves, like Bird has the two-handed fake pass, and Jokic has the one-handed slingshot pass. Both have amazing court vision and creativity.
It sucks getting old but at least I got to see Bird and Magic in their prime. Those celtic Lakers match ups were a special, inimitable piece of history.
Born in Madelia, Minnesota on October 25, 1946 Bird was bred to be a jockey. He was raised on a farm and had horses all around him while he was growing u
@thefrenchfryguy9959 dirk nowitzki & Nikola jokic would've scored 50s & 40s points scoring average against Larry bird; Larry bird would've told coach k.c Jones take me ( Larry bird) out the game got dirk nowitzki & Nikola jokic migraine headache
Jokic DOMINATES the stats: 1st in: FG's & 2-pt FG attempts; & value/replacement player & win shares & offensive win shares & win shares over 48 minutes & +/- differential & offensive +/- & box +/- 2nd in: PER rating & Minutes played & 2-pt FG's & Triple doubles in this season 3rd in Total points 4th in: Assists & Defensive +/- 5th in: Rebounding & Steals & Defensive win shares 6th in: Assist % & offensive rating 7th in Points per game 9th in Minutes per game 11th in Field Goal % 15th in 3-pt %
Jokic achieved this despite getting robbed on free throws on nightly basis. Embiid gets awarded 2.7 time more FT's than Jokic, per minute played.
Jokic Embiid Minutes played: 1,717 (2nd in NBA) 1,010 (141st) = 41% less than Jokic Field goals: 503 (1st ) 293 (41st) = 42% less than Jokic FG attempts: 887 (4th) 558 (55th) = 37% less than Jokic 2-pt FG attempts: 717 (1st) 468 (30th) = 35% less than Jokic Free throw attempts: 225 (27th) 354 (4th) = 57% MORE than Jokic Stats do not include games played in April, but would only increase the massive discrepancy already shown here!
Embiid likes to act like being struck by lightning whenever touched by defender. I don't like it, but waaay too many players do it, so whatever. Jokic is fully focused on scoring / passing so he don't faceplant this often and so he doesn't go to the foul line.
Great video! I actually watched it, and what you say rings true. Jokic, like Bird is not highly ball dominant compared to his production, great rebounder when contested, great post player, great shooter, team first. Oh yeah, and an all-time great passer.
Yup. That is why I laugh when people say Bird couldn't play in today's league. Bird is actually better than Jokic and that is saying something because Jokic is a great player.
Excellent video, and I agree except that Jokic not on that level yet. However, Jokic deserves the MVP this season, that's for sure. Wilt was a great passer as well but got most of his assists on the low block whereas Jokic getting dimes from all over the court.
All this talk about Jokic & Embiid winning the MVP this season because of their stats. I say award the MVP based on impact. I say the NBA should do what the NFL did with Peyton Manning and Steve McNair back in 2003 and award two MVP trophies to Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul based on the impact they've had on their teams. Both players have their teams at the top of a very stacked, tough Western Conference with the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Blazers. I'd put the Mavs and Spurs in their too. Spider and CP3 both deserve the MVPs more than Jokic and Embiid. I love Jokic and Embiid, but to me those two are have to be the MVPs this year because of the phenomenal job they've done with their teams.
I agree they are alot alike either got a great body type they both play with there minds they play chess but u can't compare no stats 2 different eras stats when bird played was way harder joker got a chance to be a all time top 15 player my opinion
a great comparison but a little confusing since you said you "dont care that much about analytics" then discuss things like his win shares per 48, defensive fg %, shot contests and def +/- ??
Not sure where you are from, doesn't sound like Boston. However, when the Nuggets played Boston on the road, all of Boston announcers and media were saying this same thing. Yet elsewhere people don't buy it. Odd... Boston would know best and they are the ones saying this for the past couple years.
Fist of all, Jokic is not as 'marketable' as the other candidates. He lacks charisma on and off the court. His English is not that good and he sounds a bit confusing. Although you might say this for his Serbian as well, because he comes from a part where people talk slowly How many kids are going to get a poster or t- shirt or a cap or take his character when playing a game? Very little compared with Doncic, Lebron, Harden or any other candidate. His play is not as flashy as the others have, and his appearance is not as appealing as most of the others. It's hard to build a hype around him. He is just not that good for business for the NBA. If it wasn't for those issues he would be a clear and undisputed MVP for this season. His qualities are changing the game of basketball and I think we will see players in the future which are modeled by his game. He will be one of the greats of this game, there is no doubt, and the scary thing is that he has even more room to improve. Yes there is some Bird in him, but there are so many other elements that make those two different and unique.
Flash have you seen him pass the game is not about dunks like it was look at curry with the three the game is changing and joker will definitely have his prints all over it he’ll win mvp cause coaches and analysts know the game if he was in la he’d be mvp with out the so called flash
@@Max-kv8uw he plays like a lot of the greats that had court vision and IQ like him. No single comparison is enough to cover someone like him or many other greats.
Watched Larry his entire career and he does not play like Bird. Bird was off the ball and moved well off the ball. Those type videos do not give you a complete picture. Larry was taller and much thinner than Luka. They just do that because of skin complexion.
@@philcaprino hahahahahahahaha. No need for the old head ego. Like I said no one person completely fits the picture. No need to act like it's all about race and that everyone who didn't watch the 80s is just seeing another white guy playing basketball.
Nikola Jokic is listed at 6'11" on basketball reference and on NBA.com. As for Larry Bird, I did say his listed height was 6'9" but I did also say that he probably was closer to 6'10" based on comparing him standing next to other star players.
Player height is always funny to me. I grew up a sonics fan and remember being like wtf Durant? 6'9 and skinny? Kid walks out onto the court an easy 6'10.5 probably 7'0. Got drafted as a small forward and didn't have to play Center. Basketball thanks the white lie about his height.
People do it a lot but in this case I think the comparison is actually on point. There are a lot of similarities between the two. His passing is similar to both Magic and Bird but overall he's much more similar to Bird because of his off-ball game. As we all know Magic was super ball-dominant.
Watch closely and the eye test confirms it. What many people didn't see past Bird highlights was his own array of post up arsenal especially when he's farther from the basket. One of them is a very reliable up and under that looks well choreographed and Jokic does the best impression of that. The juice here that the video doesn't show is that both players are amazing passers on the move and are godlike touch passers. If you ever seen Bird's touch pass he's integrated it with his shot motion so he's got that extra layer of deception. Jokic's touch passing is integrated with his flow of the game where it is seamless. Both have that art mastered.
Gonna have to correct you brother. First I'll say that Nikola is great. Ok? Now, to the claim that they have similar games. This is where I say, not really. As far as passing, yeah there are some similarities. But as far as scoring? This is where they are VASTLY different. Let me unpack that. Nikola's shooting percentage from midrange is 46%. Pretty solid. But, he's only attempting less than 10% of his shots from midrange. Larry Bird attempted 60% of all his shots from midrange. That's the vast majority of his shots from outside the paint. Here's the kicker. You know how many shots he made from midrange? 51%. Larry is simply the greatest midrange shooter in NBA history. So certain aspects might look similar? But since Larry lived making shots outside the paint, and Nikola hardly does, they're games are quite different.
He reminded me of bird before seeing this video. If he reminds people of bird in similar basketball than it is a valid oppinion. I'd like to see jokic in the 3 pt competition.
@@leebrandt8597 it isn't apples to apples because there ain't been a single apple like either of them. It's like comparing a fictional fruit to another fictional fruit. So Bird is an Applime and Jokic is an Limelon. Similar, but utterly unique
@@ericmiller8150 It doesn't make him right, regardless. And as I stated, Larry was a shooter and the best midrange shooter ever. Nikola plays differently.
In therm of efficiency is not,look at statistic advanced he have highest usage rating in NBA,even if i have that usage rating would have decent numbers.MVP is not about feelings and likenings only about numbers but right numbers
Yeah, you heard that on the news and from the people who think that rim protection is all that defense is, and you are repeating that to look like you know something about basketball , but if you actually go to basketball reference you would see that he is top 5 in the league in defensive box +/- and defensive win shares. People who don`t watch his games are pushing this narrative that was somewhat true 3 years ago in order to hype their MVP favorites by trashing Jokić.
His athletic limitations prevent him from being a rim protector but he's not a terrible defender by any means. He adds some value with solid positioning and he has about 1-2 steals per game. Denver's defensive rating is about average in the league right now and they'll likely get better with AG. Offense wise they are the 2nd best team in the league behind the Nets (who are defensively much worse than the Nuggets by the way).
Jokic is a fair rim protector and a good man defender to add to his elite offensive game. There are far worse or marginally better rim protectors than Jokic but are not as consistent overall.
Nikola Jokić is playing like Nikola Jokić.
Yep, I don't think even Larry Bird does the things that Jokic does well. Jokic is a center and Bird was a forward. Jokic plays like a true center with his post move, with power, height and touch. And he barely dribbles. Because he's a center he's not only making passes from the post. He's also a big presence as a screener. Bird was more of a forward, still. Even with the similarities.
@@yunan9610 yah
@@yunan9610 larry bird was a power forward who can shoot and pass.
@@yunan9610 Larry Bird was a post monster and also relied on less dribbling, he was usually get ball, quick dribble, shot up. Also screened for other players after passes. Everything you describe, Bird did: th-cam.com/video/S8n5tPbWB50/w-d-xo.html
@@yunan9610 Jokic barely dribbles? Have you seen him running the plays as a point guard, dribbling during the fastbreaks, taking 5+ dribbles in the post?
Jokic is also clutch
Larry is clutch too
Jokic is a slower Bird. He's proof that bird would do even better now, not worse. Bird's hustle and motor. The fact that he beat some of the best ever. Win% only 10 games behind magic in the toughest era, in the toughest conference era of all time.
💯 facts given!
They both have their unique moves, like Bird has the two-handed fake pass, and Jokic has the one-handed slingshot pass. Both have amazing court vision and creativity.
It sucks getting old but at least I got to see Bird and Magic in their prime. Those celtic Lakers match ups were a special, inimitable piece of history.
goatkic! mvp
A nowadays basketball video with good background music. Cant' believe it.
This music is not good for a basketball comp.
@@a.t.francis2716 yeah, well you know. that's just like your opinion, man.
@@russell2890 why the fuck u hunting me mane.
Born in Madelia, Minnesota on October 25, 1946 Bird was bred to be a jockey. He was raised on a farm and had horses all around him while he was growing u
Also need of mentioning that in the last 9 games he had 4 with no calls on him.
Brate to ce samo da ga nalozi...kao i ostatak tima, nadam se
I ja se nadam.
you mean in his last 4 quarters he had 9 no calls....in his last 9 games kinda 81...
@@soulyrasheed no, he had 4 full games without single FT from last 9 games.
@@soulyrasheed but you also right... About 81 no calls 😏
"he ain't jumping over loose leafs" LOL
Now THERE is the correct Bird comparison. Joker/ Bird, not Doncic'/Bird. Doncic' is the white magic Johnson.
Ben simmons is the most similar to magic, but he fucked up so bad
Just goes to show you you don’t have to be Uber athletic to play in the league, and this is why Larry Bird would tear up the league
Bird would be great, but tear up this league is a little too far
@thefrenchfryguy9959 dirk nowitzki & Nikola jokic would've scored 50s & 40s points scoring average against Larry bird; Larry bird would've told coach k.c Jones take me ( Larry bird) out the game got dirk nowitzki & Nikola jokic migraine headache
Jokic DOMINATES the stats:
1st in: FG's & 2-pt FG attempts; & value/replacement player & win shares & offensive win shares & win shares over 48 minutes & +/- differential & offensive +/- & box +/-
2nd in: PER rating & Minutes played & 2-pt FG's & Triple doubles in this season
3rd in Total points
4th in: Assists & Defensive +/-
5th in: Rebounding & Steals & Defensive win shares
6th in: Assist % & offensive rating
7th in Points per game
9th in Minutes per game
11th in Field Goal %
15th in 3-pt %
Jokic achieved this despite getting robbed on free throws on nightly basis.
Embiid gets awarded 2.7 time more FT's than Jokic, per minute played.
Jokic Embiid
Minutes played: 1,717 (2nd in NBA) 1,010 (141st) = 41% less than Jokic
Field goals: 503 (1st ) 293 (41st) = 42% less than Jokic
FG attempts: 887 (4th) 558 (55th) = 37% less than Jokic
2-pt FG attempts: 717 (1st) 468 (30th) = 35% less than Jokic
Free throw attempts: 225 (27th) 354 (4th) = 57% MORE than Jokic
Stats do not include games played in April, but would only increase the massive discrepancy already shown here!
Embiid likes to act like being struck by lightning whenever touched by defender. I don't like it, but waaay too many players do it, so whatever. Jokic is fully focused on scoring / passing so he don't faceplant this often and so he doesn't go to the foul line.
Legends both 💪🏻❤️✊👏🏆
Absolutely. Great comparison.
Great video! I actually watched it, and what you say rings true. Jokic, like Bird is not highly ball dominant compared to his production, great rebounder when contested, great post player, great shooter, team first. Oh yeah, and an all-time great passer.
Yup. That is why I laugh when people say Bird couldn't play in today's league. Bird is actually better than Jokic and that is saying something because Jokic is a great player.
Excellent video, and I agree except that Jokic not on that level yet. However, Jokic deserves the MVP this season, that's for sure. Wilt was a great passer as well but got most of his assists on the low block whereas Jokic getting dimes from all over the court.
Can you imagine Bird and Jokic playing together? My God.
MVP
Tonight Jokic tied with Larry Bird triple double...yet he don't even started.
Joker is the reason I’m watching bball again for the first time in over 40 years.
I love Bird and thought of this comparison about a year ago. I wish we had him.
You got it bro!!!
Joker's Wild and Bird Man----- wow !!!!!
hres going down as the top three greatest centers
And I think Luka is showing shades of Magic with his mismatch-hunting playing style and heliocentrism.
Yep it's Doncic' = Magic J, Jokic =Larry Bird.
@@andygossard4293 I don’t understand why people think larry plays like luka
Tears for fears. Good music choice. Very refreshing.
All this talk about Jokic & Embiid winning the MVP this season because of their stats. I say award the MVP based on impact. I say the NBA should do what the NFL did with Peyton Manning and Steve McNair back in 2003 and award two MVP trophies to Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul based on the impact they've had on their teams. Both players have their teams at the top of a very stacked, tough Western Conference with the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Blazers. I'd put the Mavs and Spurs in their too. Spider and CP3 both deserve the MVPs more than Jokic and Embiid. I love Jokic and Embiid, but to me those two are have to be the MVPs this year because of the phenomenal job they've done with their teams.
Jokic plays like Bird, McHale, Dirk, and himself.
Bird plays like Jokic....more to come from Sombor!!!!
Jokic has improved his vertical no way it’s 5 inches now. He’s been training he did a pull up on the rim lol
I agree they are alot alike either got a great body type they both play with there minds they play chess but u can't compare no stats 2 different eras stats when bird played was way harder joker got a chance to be a all time top 15 player my opinion
Nice channel. Denver Nuggets fan.
🃏🃏🃏 great video 👏
a great comparison but a little confusing since you said you "dont care that much about analytics" then discuss things like his win shares per 48, defensive fg %, shot contests and def +/- ??
Not sure where you are from, doesn't sound like Boston. However, when the Nuggets played Boston on the road, all of Boston announcers and media were saying this same thing. Yet elsewhere people don't buy it. Odd... Boston would know best and they are the ones saying this for the past couple years.
Fist of all, Jokic is not as 'marketable' as the other candidates. He lacks charisma on and off the court. His English is not that good and he sounds a bit confusing. Although you might say this for his Serbian as well, because he comes from a part where people talk slowly How many kids are going to get a poster or t- shirt or a cap or take his character when playing a game? Very little compared with Doncic, Lebron, Harden or any other candidate. His play is not as flashy as the others have, and his appearance is not as appealing as most of the others. It's hard to build a hype around him. He is just not that good for business for the NBA. If it wasn't for those issues he would be a clear and undisputed MVP for this season. His qualities are changing the game of basketball and I think we will see players in the future which are modeled by his game. He will be one of the greats of this game, there is no doubt, and the scary thing is that he has even more room to improve. Yes there is some Bird in him, but there are so many other elements that make those two different and unique.
Flash have you seen him pass the game is not about dunks like it was look at curry with the three the game is changing and joker will definitely have his prints all over it he’ll win mvp cause coaches and analysts know the game if he was in la he’d be mvp with out the so called flash
Well said 👍
Difference between both, is Bird looks more athletic compare to jokic lol
Luka plays nothing like Bird. Hes a bigger version of Harden.
And equal sized Magic Johnson.
Jokic needs to work really hard to be anywhere near Larry Legend's level. Which speaks volumes since Larry came into the league a complete player.
Nah
@@a.t.francis2716 speak english.
@@russell2890 nah
Luka most definitely plays like Bird, I've watched two videos talking of the comparison and there is a lot more than you seem to acknowledge.
I think Luka is playing more like Magic personally.
@@Max-kv8uw he plays like a lot of the greats that had court vision and IQ like him. No single comparison is enough to cover someone like him or many other greats.
@@CheeryBerserkr agree, but if I were to make one that goes back in time, it would be Magic
Watched Larry his entire career and he does not play like Bird. Bird was off the ball and moved well off the ball. Those type videos do not give you a complete picture. Larry was taller and much thinner than Luka. They just do that because of skin complexion.
@@philcaprino hahahahahahahaha. No need for the old head ego. Like I said no one person completely fits the picture. No need to act like it's all about race and that everyone who didn't watch the 80s is just seeing another white guy playing basketball.
Much better than Russ
Is this Larry guy also Serbian ???
He's half japanese half brazilian
Jokic is 7'0 I dont like that you took and gave an inch to make their heights closer, I like the comparison but dont like that aspect.
basketball reference says he is 6'11"
Nikola Jokic is listed at 6'11" on basketball reference and on NBA.com. As for Larry Bird, I did say his listed height was 6'9" but I did also say that he probably was closer to 6'10" based on comparing him standing next to other star players.
@@theoverunder3588 he was 7'0 last year 🤣
Who cares, they are both similarly tall
Player height is always funny to me. I grew up a sonics fan and remember being like wtf Durant? 6'9 and skinny? Kid walks out onto the court an easy 6'10.5 probably 7'0. Got drafted as a small forward and didn't have to play Center. Basketball thanks the white lie about his height.
Mora da osvoji makar jednu titulu.
He is white and good at basketball=Larry Bird. This is getting silly, I would say his style is closer to Magic Johnsons than Larry Bird
just say you didn't watch the video. His post moves, passing, stats, and overall playstyle is just like Bird.
@@raferalstonisgoat4457 Jokic is better comparison to Bird than what the media is calling Luka is like Bird.
Luka plays nothing like Bird
People do it a lot but in this case I think the comparison is actually on point. There are a lot of similarities between the two. His passing is similar to both Magic and Bird but overall he's much more similar to Bird because of his off-ball game. As we all know Magic was super ball-dominant.
Watch closely and the eye test confirms it. What many people didn't see past Bird highlights was his own array of post up arsenal especially when he's farther from the basket. One of them is a very reliable up and under that looks well choreographed and Jokic does the best impression of that. The juice here that the video doesn't show is that both players are amazing passers on the move and are godlike touch passers. If you ever seen Bird's touch pass he's integrated it with his shot motion so he's got that extra layer of deception. Jokic's touch passing is integrated with his flow of the game where it is seamless. Both have that art mastered.
Can't hardly hear you...
Gonna have to correct you brother. First I'll say that Nikola is great. Ok? Now, to the claim that they have similar games. This is where I say, not really. As far as passing, yeah there are some similarities. But as far as scoring? This is where they are VASTLY different. Let me unpack that. Nikola's shooting percentage from midrange is 46%. Pretty solid. But, he's only attempting less than 10% of his shots from midrange. Larry Bird attempted 60% of all his shots from midrange. That's the vast majority of his shots from outside the paint. Here's the kicker. You know how many shots he made from midrange? 51%. Larry is simply the greatest midrange shooter in NBA history.
So certain aspects might look similar? But since Larry lived making shots outside the paint, and Nikola hardly does, they're games are quite different.
He reminded me of bird before seeing this video. If he reminds people of bird in similar basketball than it is a valid oppinion. I'd like to see jokic in the 3 pt competition.
@@kpcart They have very different ways of scoring, so it's not apples to apples
Idk when one of the greatest coaches in the game say he reminds him of Larry bird that carry’s some weight Greg popovich
@@leebrandt8597 it isn't apples to apples because there ain't been a single apple like either of them. It's like comparing a fictional fruit to another fictional fruit. So Bird is an Applime and Jokic is an Limelon. Similar, but utterly unique
@@ericmiller8150 It doesn't make him right, regardless. And as I stated, Larry was a shooter and the best midrange shooter ever. Nikola plays differently.
No, Bird played like Jokic
Maybe when Jokic wins 4 titles and 4 mvp's and is a top 5 all time player.
Doncic arguably one of the best on the league? what?????
he's top 10-15. Thats arguably ONE of the best.
@@raferalstonisgoat4457 If being on the top 20 doesn' t make you one of the best i don't know what makes you one of the best.
my mistake. Luka is easily one of the best. Not sure why i said arguably
In therm of efficiency is not,look at statistic advanced he have highest usage rating in NBA,even if i have that usage rating would have decent numbers.MVP is not about feelings and likenings only about numbers but right numbers
Next year MVP
he can't defend.
Tell me any center who played him?
Yeah, you heard that on the news and from the people who think that rim protection is all that defense is, and you are repeating that to look like you know something about basketball , but if you actually go to basketball reference you would see that he is top 5 in the league in defensive box +/- and defensive win shares. People who don`t watch his games are pushing this narrative that was somewhat true 3 years ago in order to hype their MVP favorites by trashing Jokić.
His athletic limitations prevent him from being a rim protector but he's not a terrible defender by any means. He adds some value with solid positioning and he has about 1-2 steals per game. Denver's defensive rating is about average in the league right now and they'll likely get better with AG. Offense wise they are the 2nd best team in the league behind the Nets (who are defensively much worse than the Nuggets by the way).
Lol he's 2nd I'm the league in steals and top5 in deflections
Jokic is a fair rim protector and a good man defender to add to his elite offensive game. There are far worse or marginally better rim protectors than Jokic but are not as consistent overall.