Jokic has great endurance, but traditionally what we mean by "athletic" is: how fast you can run, how high you can jump, how much you can lift. Jokic low key might be the strongest player in the nba outside of like Drummond. He lifts after every game.
@@DammitBobby He couldn't do a single pushup when he signed for his former team at like 16-17. Previously to that he played with guys his age and averaged like 30/20 and coach of his new team (now an assistant at Warriors) took a month preparing him physically for playing some minutes at higher level. So it's actually amazing how far he's come...
Jokic is very athletic, look at his coordination as a ball handler and passer, how he changes ends constantly beating “more athletic” opposing bigs down the floor all game long despite his massive workload. He’s also enormous and strong. He just doesn’t jump high, but in the nba if you’re white and don’t have a huge vert you will be called unathletic even if you are all time in other physical categories.
I feel like Jokic is disrespectful more than other all time greats, like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and even Michael Jordan. I really don't understand the criticism you can give Jokic, since he is better than everyone in the league right now except maybe Giannis.
@@pandabear1576 Possibly, but i don't think many would claim Duncan was a better player than Shaq and Kobe, even though he probably was, or at least he had a better overall career... Which basically confims the premise that if you aren't loud, flashy and strive to be in the public spotlight, you'll likely get under-appriciated. But it is what it is.
Because it is indeed awkward and sometimes quite ugly. He doesn't jump high or run fast. His shooting form is over and behind his head. A lot of his shots look like he's just throwing shit up. However, once you watch him enough you realize that none of that is luck. He's just that unorthodox and good. His touch on the ball is second to none in the NBA. His passing is probably the one part of his game that is REALLY pretty nearly all the time. For those people that aren't into passing, though, it doesn't look sexy.
Because he’s white & not a victim like Joel . If he was of a different skin colour & playing the victim card they would be talking about him more often ..
Idk why people say he is not flashy, like, we're talking about a 7 footer that literally can shot a step back 3 on Davis face, and his passing is just amazing
People say he's not flashy because they are mostly referring to his personality and relationship with the media off the court and his fundamental rather than highlight plays and super athleticism on the court. No one who's serious about watching the NBA and is aware of him can deny his talent and skill.
@@jeffhardy6333 Its hard to even say that because Jokic is also an elite 3 point and midrange shooter, on top of a post and paint beast, on top of Magic level passes and floor surveying, its an amalgamation of a load of players
@@tplouffe9226 yeah he’s his own player really. Very special but under appreciated. To me, his just a big ass Jason Kidd. Both dictate every single facet of the game
@@tplouffe9226 "-amalgamation of a load of players" is a great way of putting it. Jokic is a combination of Bird's absurd shot-making ability, Magic's vision, Sabonis' touch, Lebron's on-the-court IQ, Duncan's fundamentals and professionalism, hell even Kobe's footwork. Truly a once in a lifetime player and somehow he's still incredibly underrated by most casual fans and the media.
There's a difference between looking awkward and being awkward. Jokic often deliberately makes his game look awkward because it confuses others and makes it very difficult to play against him. However awkward his game appears to be, only fools argue with the results. The stats he's generated and the champion he just won don't lie.
Jokic is like the combination of Bird and Magic. He does everything those guys could do. Except hes even bigger with size of Sabonis. Those guys made the game beautiful to watch. Hes a once in a generational talent. Great hands with scoring and passing made easy with his height and heft. But he also comes from a long line of Serbian or Yugo versatile bigs from the 70s. You can say he the culmination of the big man evolution from that part of the world. Makes the game watchble again.
No disrespect, but it's very funny to see how some people have such a hard time understanding that basketball, at its core, is not about athleticism, but intelligence, positioning and skill, and I'm not talking about dribbling the ball 50 times between the legs. It's almost a disservice to call his game "awkward" and "hard for kids to mimic", just shows how much basketball is not being taught by a LOT of people the right way. You probably won't be as good as him, but making the right passes, always being in control, understanding how to attack zone defense and other things can be mimicked.
But in a way PG is right, because since Steph and Warriors changed basketball with their 3pt game there's less mid range and post magic in highlights. Every kid wants to dunk like Giannis or shoot from the parking lot like Steph these days because that's "in", sucks that they don't give a shit about foundamentals and that's why I hope Jokic will have at least few rings before he retires so they can see and understand that you can use your basketball IQ to dominate too.
@@lazarperic4525 To me it has nothing to do with how kids want to play, but how adults, who should know better, are teaching them HOW to play. Analytics can play a part, 100%, you can shoot the 3. What they said here is basically "it's easier to just shoot from anywhere than just lear the game the right way". Basketball is more than that. We just saw the Celtics lose to the Heat because they were awful fro 3 and dind't know how to attack zone with 2 top 15-20 players and some really good pieces. Players and coaching staff should be embarrassed about that.
I grew up playing football (soccer for you Americans) and only really started playing basketball late into my teens, and I was surprised at how similar your positional awareness has to be to actually play basketball to what we have in football. I'd seen NBA games before and I just assumed because of he court was so much smaller than a football pitch formations, positioning and the like didn't play much of a role and that it was all about 1v1s and individual skill (in my defense it's what the NBA tries to portray the game of basketball as) but only after I tried to actually play myself did I realise that if you learn how to be in the right place at the right time you instantly go from a liability to a decent player lol.
He does not feel underestimated, He is underestimated by the media and quasi-analysts. He came to the US to do an honest job for which he was paid, more than he had planned. When he finishes his career, I believe he will have a lot of offers to do something related to basketball. He will probably, in accordance with his nature, then withdraw from the public and devote himself to his family, friends and his hobbies.
With how the NBA is at the moment, it's a breath of fresh to see someone like Jokic who has monstrous stats is very indifferent and doesn't need to carry himself like a brand to draw people in. He loves Denver and Denver loves him. He is not captivating? Because doesn't do flashy dunks or crossovers? It doesn't matter. The guy doesn't have any social media and doesn't care how he brands himself through the league, his ability and stats on the court speak for themselves. Not everyone has to have that swagger or "killer or mamba mentality" bs that everyone just loves to eat up like it's their own dung. The numbers do not lie and that's a cold hard fact. He just wants to win. Nikola Jokic is an efficient scorer, an unusual facilitator like no other, and a rebound master. He's a monsters that can strike you from multiple directions. He's like a hydra.
As a kid who had an awkward game growing up I would always get clowned and ridiculed by my teammates. In middle school it pretty much destroyed my confidence and I stopped hooping entirely. I got back into it my freshman man year of college after the raptors had just won the title. I started watching the NBA again and instantly became a fan of Jokic. Ugly as hell and awkward as a mf on the court but he still sliced dudes up. Watching his success bolstered my confidence in my unorthodox play and now at 22 I’ve developed really solid game. I beat guys with hook shots, awkward catch and shoot 3s, little floaters, and one legged faders. What I lack in athleticism and handles I make up for with constant movement off the ball. I think that it’s great for kids to have all sorts of player types they can look up to now. It’s what makes basketball unique and beautiful, there’s so many ways to play it.
Right. The only thing he's not good at as far as athleticism goes is vertical jumping and lateral quickness. Straight line speed he's actually pretty fast. Foot work? Elite. His hands are the fastest in the NBA (and the softest in terms of catching the ball, controlling it, and his touch). Coordination, balance, all those skills he's elite. Timing, hand eye coordination, ability to put a pass right where it needs to be... those are all supreme athletic talents. And his mental processing is in the highest tier with guys like Magic and Nash if not above them (I'd say he is above all but maybe Magic).
He ain't the slow...lol I'll tell you he runs faster than most in transition. For a big guy he sure does know how to get buckets. He has his own speed. You cant speed him up.
dudes also 7 foot, not much muscle but strong af, cant move him. he also has amazing post up play, couple that with his vision, playmaking and shooting??? damn.. all around player
I agree, and I also think lead club players who chase more points will start to do more assists, and think how they can affect the game by including rest of the teammeats.
Nuggets, if they win a championship, will have proven formula, so we can expect some copy/paste might happen how other clubs approach the game in seasons to come.
@@felix3033 🤞 Regardless of the outcome, I really enjoy watching Nugget boys doing the warrior dance around the ball. Denver people are so lucky right now just because of the atmosphere in the city, and the opportunity to witness all this live in the arena. We will be cheering very late on other side of the globe🤞
Saying Jokic is unathletic, while he's dominating one of the best, if not the best athletes in the world(NBA players are big, strong and fast, unlike any other sport) on a regular basis. When I say dominating, I'm not saying he's dropping 30pts on them, he's dropping 40pts TRIPLE DOUBLES, and WINNING 90% of the games when he gets a triple double. Best center ever, maybe he goes down as the greatest of all times, which is undeniable if he gets 5+ rings.
The one issue that I disagree with is all of the comments that Nicola is not athletic and he's slow he has a different body type than many of the superstars but I don't believe that he is unathletic and slow by a mile.
He doesn't have great foot speed. Definitely great for a 6'11 270 lb guy, elite even, but that is an issue. I mean, we just saw Embiid get cooked in space by Tatum all damn game seven. That's the tough thing about bigs in this era. But when you can still anchor the defense as a back line facilitator and dominate the glass, your offensive value can make you a net positive. Jokic has all-time offensive value.
I was friends with NBA center who was almost 7' tall and you dont understand how strong these dudes are even if they dont have muscles showing like Olajuwon or Dwight Howard in his prime. You think because they dont look ripped that they are "soft" or not strong, but I promise you, these human giants are strong AF. When I was hanging with this NBA guy I mentioned, I could barely nudge him using all my strength and at that time I was about 220-230lbs with 5'10" height.
@@Yabas00 everyone can "make fun of him" but dude made over $50 mil, spent 10 years in NBA and in the end, did more in his career than many other top 5 picks. His problem was mentality he had at the time (was very young), coming from another culture at such young age and never being given real chance as starter (was always back up to someone, probably because of things mentioned before). Besides those, his biggest mark on him is being in draft with Lebron, Bosh, Wade and Melo. That is probably strongest draft in history, so Darko was always fairly or unfairly being compared to them.
I don't think Jokic feels one way or another about being "rated" or "underrated". I'm pretty sure he doesn't pay any attention to any of it. I know he got bothered with the hate thrown at him visavi "race" and "stat-padding" and such - because it was not decent and was toxic to the core. He's a polite and decent human and that venom surprised him and bothered him. It was good that it happened this early - as he obviously hardened his armor and closed that gap too. Underrated? He doesn't even like getting any attention. Doesn't care. Goes there, does his business and goes home to enjoy his life. Naagh, Jokic is well rooted and balanced human, this noise means nothing to him.
Hakeem called him "the one" to carry on the post move tradition with all of his moves and counter-moves. KG talked about how he's like a counter-puncher in the post. He can't jump. What he does isn't flashy (except for the passing). But WOW is he good. I wonder if there will actually be any Jokić imitators. His effectiveness is largely predicated on his ability to see plays happen before they happen and counter his opponents in the post. I'm not sure we'll see a player come along soon who will be able to combine basketball IQ, touch, and post skill like he does simply because the passing is too difficult and the rest isn't flashy. I love watching him, but I suspect a player who imitated his game wouldn't look very good on a scouting report, even if they did come along. I suppose it's possible they'd get drafted simply because their effectiveness could be too great to be ignored, but I feel like it's very easy to have one key ingredient missing that makes the whole structure fall apart. I'd love to see it, though.
Sengun already has called Jokic his idol but Sengun needs many pieces in order for him to even sniff Jokic’s level. First is a better touch around the rim + refined post footwork. He loves to use his shot put as a floater but it can be wildly inaccurate. His footwork can be special at times but he looks like a newborn giraffe at other times as he tries to audible through double teams and traffic. Second is he needs to work on his mid range game not to mention his three point game. Jokic is unstoppable because he can fall back on that if the defense sags off him to cover cutters. Sengun does not have good form nor accuracy in the mid range yet. Thirdly, his defense leaves a lot to be desired. He doesn’t elevate as a rim protector similar to Jokic but he also has poor positioning due to his slower foot speed while Jokic has compensated by having better anticipation. Jokic is also like 3 inches taller so his length helps him overcome other deficiencies that Sengun can’t. Sengun already is the most impactful offensive player on the rockets but he is so many levels below where Jokic and the rest of the Euro big lineage are right now. His passing and awkward feel of the game does hint at the promise of him being able to be similar to Sabonis at the moment though
@@dylanbach8578 I never said he was a good imitation or a close one, because I know he isn't, but he's trying. At this point his really more like what Minnesota Wiggins was to Kobe or Jordan.
@@dylanbach8578 and yes I think he's much more likely to have a similar ceiling to Sabonis than Jokic, because Jokic is a once in a lifetime type of player.
It’s not a track & field event, it’s basketball. It’s about getting more points than the other team, not who can jump the highest. It’s absurd to say “he isn’t athletic” because he doesn’t have a 40” vertical and keeps his tongue in his mouth. Jokic plays 40 minutes a game so he has endurance. Jokic is considered the second strongest player in the league only behind Steven Adams. Jokic is 7’ but he has amazing touch, great hands, great vision, great foot work. He throws passes the length of the court with pinpoint accuracy. But you say he is “unathletic”? You have a very narrow, ignorant sense of athleticism.
Jokic’s Passing is like Magic His shooting is like Bird His fadeaway is like Dirk Fundamentals like Tim Duncan His Game IQ and ability to control the pace of a game is like LeBron But his athleticism is like a player from your local YMCA pickup game.
@@strelicijum love it or hate it LeBron has one of the best game IQ’s in basketball history. That comes with experience but he’s always making the right play. Jokic is the same way in that regard. Knowing where his team and the opposing team will be on every play and using that knowledge to take advantage of the team’s strategy.
If Kobe was still alive, he d ve done a 'details' on Jokic game, and y all dummies would ve understood instead of calling his game awkward. Kobe seemed to be the only one who understands the difference between how basketball is played abroad and how it should be played the right way. He was lamenting how the americans focus more on athletism and forget about the most important about the game which are fundamentals
While I do agree that it’s difficult for people to wrap their heads around Joker and how he plays, I feel like it’s actually easier to relate to how he plays basketball as opposed to crazy athletic guys like Ja or Giannis. Cause if you think about it, there’s not a lot of flash in his game. It’s mostly about making the right decisions and being fundamentally sound (being built like a Serbian Superman helps as well though don’t get me wrong). It’s probably easier for the average person to emulate Jokić than it is with someone like Ja who’s naturally a gifted athlete
They tell you the NBA is fast, more skilled now and they praise guys like Russ!!! Jokic, who they say is slow, is turning them into fool school boys, including their "king"😅😅 They can t even understand his game, imagine what the Larry Bird, Magic could do to them...
@@smoothpace507 👏that’s wat I said looking at jokic “boy bird would tear this league up” I see bird as a mix of luka and jokic he’s 6’9/10 more agile then jokic bigger than luka efficient like jokic can dime if not better jus as good as them and had supreme confidence. Now you surround that player wit the spacing a less physical play plus the sports medicine and science of today!!!! 🤦♂️it would be insane
Paul George. It's because your basketball IQ and fundamentals are far below Jokic. He's two steps ahead of you and the rest of the league before you even wake up. That's not hate just facts!
i feel like US basketball audience is consisted in mostly young black americans whom likes the guy to jump high, dunk on someone and mean mugging afterward. They don't care about the real basketball game. That even translate in the efficiency of a player. You can have 50 points shooting below 30%, they don't care as long is a 50 piece. That's why Joker is hard to sell to this type of audience. He can walk away with 25/15/15 with high efficiency and a win, and the kids will still be not impressed because he does not have a dunk on the highlights.
Arvydas Sabonis is his comparison. The stats aren’t close but they’re very similar players. We never got to see a prime Sabonis in the NBA too but if we did, it would look like Joker
It really is a damn shame that Sabonis wasn't able to join the league before his knees were shot. Even going at half speed, his skill set was terrifying.
What people who didn't follow him right from the beginning in NBA don't know is that once coach Malone heavily criticized him for not being aggressive and not taking enough of shots and Jokic went to next match and didn't shoot a single shot entire match, LOL.
Duncan did not get his teammates involved like Jokic. He relied on Parker and Ginobili for that. Jokic is a one way passing machine 360 degree direction.
This is the reason why many say that Larry Bird can be monstrous in this era. He was a heady player and was really good on how to maximize his abilities as against his opponents. Plus, bird was a cold blooded assasin like MJ. To put better context, Kobe in one interview once said that as a student of the game, he queried the lakers 80s and was asking why they were calling bird great when he was as slow asf.
It’s kind of like CR7’s later years. He stopped being flashy, but he was still scoring goals every game. People were calling in Tapinaldo for all the easy tap in goals he was scoring, but why don’t you see anyone else getting 50 goals a season on easy goals, he’s doing something no one else is doing.
As a Serbian coach can confirm, the trick is to teach the kids when they are young that they can play any position.And then you get a 7 foot guy that can do anything on the court.
Couple of years from now? Dude will be playing til he is 40 if he wishes. His style and game is soft on his body. He plays with his mind as much as his physical traits.
PG, you could describe to us a little bit his sombor shuffle that he threw over your head when you played 200% defense, I remember it, I'm sure you remember it too.
It's become a trend to talk about how underrated jokic is. Every single media outlet / podcast is putting out content on how underrated he is and every one of them seems to blame the "media". Something doesn't add up there -- some of these outlets need to put out an apology for not rating him earlier
It is simple-people that do not appreciate Jokić don't know and don't understand the game of basketball!!Not to mention he's a great example of a good person.
Jokić is so athletic he teaches you a lesson, run smarter not faster. He's schooling everyone out there. If you base basketball out of athleticism then Jokić must be the most athletic out there.
If your kids can't emulate and recreate Jokic game, you might have to start teaching them the fundamentals of the game better... Is not a Jokic problem is a "you" problem
Non-US players always take a lot of time to get recognition. People like Hakeem, Gasol, Nowitzki, Giannis, Jokic, always got recognition years after they'd started dominating. It's culture, in the sense that Americans blow their own trumpet, and non-Americans do it less. It's also that Americans struggle to recognise great players that don't play American.
He might be like a young Arvydas, with less defence? I really wonder what would have happened if Arvydas joined the leauge in 1986. How would the NBA game have changed. Would the big men that were in high school and younger changed up thier style.
Arvydas was a true center 7'3 monster dunking on people, their games and playstyle were much different. Jokic is like a giant point guard that can still bang in the paint and is a sharpshooter.
It seems "not athletic" means not explosive, to the media. Because Jokic is one hell of an athlete.
Jokic has great endurance, but traditionally what we mean by "athletic" is: how fast you can run, how high you can jump, how much you can lift. Jokic low key might be the strongest player in the nba outside of like Drummond. He lifts after every game.
@@DammitBobby He couldn't do a single pushup when he signed for his former team at like 16-17. Previously to that he played with guys his age and averaged like 30/20 and coach of his new team (now an assistant at Warriors) took a month preparing him physically for playing some minutes at higher level. So it's actually amazing how far he's come...
I think a guy as strong/big as jokic with his endurance and movement is a pretty rare type of athlete
Jokic is very athletic, look at his coordination as a ball handler and passer, how he changes ends constantly beating “more athletic” opposing bigs down the floor all game long despite his massive workload. He’s also enormous and strong. He just doesn’t jump high, but in the nba if you’re white and don’t have a huge vert you will be called unathletic even if you are all time in other physical categories.
He really is. His first step and 2nd jump are super quick and what gets him good looks and easy putbacks/rebounds
Same thing happened to Tim Duncan, it’s seems like the non flashy nba players don’t really start to get appreciated until they retire
Most people will say Tim Duncan is a top 10 player
I feel like Jokic is disrespectful more than other all time greats, like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and even Michael Jordan. I really don't understand the criticism you can give Jokic, since he is better than everyone in the league right now except maybe Giannis.
@@tinku-j4n he’s way better than Giannis
@@tinku-j4n a run and dunk player can't be a bettee player than a dude that shoots. It's basketball guy not american football where you just run
@@pandabear1576 Possibly, but i don't think many would claim Duncan was a better player than Shaq and Kobe, even though he probably was, or at least he had a better overall career... Which basically confims the premise that if you aren't loud, flashy and strive to be in the public spotlight, you'll likely get under-appriciated. But it is what it is.
How do people not think watching Jokic is exciting dude is knocking down 3s crazy assist and owns the board
step back 3's over the best defenders in the league
Because it is indeed awkward and sometimes quite ugly. He doesn't jump high or run fast. His shooting form is over and behind his head. A lot of his shots look like he's just throwing shit up. However, once you watch him enough you realize that none of that is luck. He's just that unorthodox and good. His touch on the ball is second to none in the NBA. His passing is probably the one part of his game that is REALLY pretty nearly all the time. For those people that aren't into passing, though, it doesn't look sexy.
Because he’s white & not a victim like Joel . If he was of a different skin colour & playing the victim card they would be talking about him more often ..
I think a lot of it has to do with playing for the Nuggets. If he played in LA he would potentially be a megastar
@@VLAD_P_ he is one of the few players in the NBA who has experienced war.
Idk why people say he is not flashy, like, we're talking about a 7 footer that literally can shot a step back 3 on Davis face, and his passing is just amazing
same here
Nbs he flashy
Right like he’s probably the flashiest center we’ve seen lol, just isn’t a dunker
As a nuggets fan I don't say he's not flashy I say he's not VIRAL.
People say he's not flashy because they are mostly referring to his personality and relationship with the media off the court and his fundamental rather than highlight plays and super athleticism on the court. No one who's serious about watching the NBA and is aware of him can deny his talent and skill.
There is NO comparison for Jokic. He is a 1 of 1. That’s it. That’s all. Glad his appreciation is coming around but he is his OWN man.
Arvydas Sabonis is his comparison. May not look like it from the stats but they’re very similar. I personally see a bit of Magic Johnson too
@@jeffhardy6333 Its hard to even say that because Jokic is also an elite 3 point and midrange shooter, on top of a post and paint beast, on top of Magic level passes and floor surveying, its an amalgamation of a load of players
@@tplouffe9226 yeah he’s his own player really. Very special but under appreciated. To me, his just a big ass Jason Kidd. Both dictate every single facet of the game
@@tplouffe9226 "-amalgamation of a load of players" is a great way of putting it. Jokic is a combination of Bird's absurd shot-making ability, Magic's vision, Sabonis' touch, Lebron's on-the-court IQ, Duncan's fundamentals and professionalism, hell even Kobe's footwork. Truly a once in a lifetime player and somehow he's still incredibly underrated by most casual fans and the media.
@@gabrielromero808 underrated because each individual play looks awkward and slow. Then you realise he does this 30 times and gets you a triple double
The fact that he brings the ball up court so much as a center is wild
No comparison = Unique
No flash = Humble
Akward game = Fundemental
Mmmmmm I have never associated flashy play with humbleness. When someone says flashy player I think steph, magic, Crawford
@@iamsheron7408 I think that he said flash and not flashy play, different things 😄
@@2596Stefan oh oh I see
There's a difference between looking awkward and being awkward. Jokic often deliberately makes his game look awkward because it confuses others and makes it very difficult to play against him. However awkward his game appears to be, only fools argue with the results. The stats he's generated and the champion he just won don't lie.
I see Jokic in the same boat as Steph, generational talents. One of a kind.
He's much better than Steph that's no question.
It is crazy the best comparison is like a Magic Johnson Dirk
Larry bird
He is mix of all those, and even better, he is putting his records above those guys
Never since Jokic is the new norm
So Larry bird ?
It's Bill Walton with a 3 ball and even better handle, he plays like a UCLA Walton
Jokic is like the combination of Bird and Magic. He does everything those guys could do. Except hes even bigger with size of Sabonis. Those guys made the game beautiful to watch. Hes a once in a generational talent. Great hands with scoring and passing made easy with his height and heft. But he also comes from a long line of Serbian or Yugo versatile bigs from the 70s. You can say he the culmination of the big man evolution from that part of the world. Makes the game watchble again.
No disrespect, but it's very funny to see how some people have such a hard time understanding that basketball, at its core, is not about athleticism, but intelligence, positioning and skill, and I'm not talking about dribbling the ball 50 times between the legs. It's almost a disservice to call his game "awkward" and "hard for kids to mimic", just shows how much basketball is not being taught by a LOT of people the right way. You probably won't be as good as him, but making the right passes, always being in control, understanding how to attack zone defense and other things can be mimicked.
100%
But in a way PG is right, because since Steph and Warriors changed basketball with their 3pt game there's less mid range and post magic in highlights. Every kid wants to dunk like Giannis or shoot from the parking lot like Steph these days because that's "in", sucks that they don't give a shit about foundamentals and that's why I hope Jokic will have at least few rings before he retires so they can see and understand that you can use your basketball IQ to dominate too.
Teach damn kinds how to be a team player, so they can find a way and figure things out on their own.
@@lazarperic4525 To me it has nothing to do with how kids want to play, but how adults, who should know better, are teaching them HOW to play. Analytics can play a part, 100%, you can shoot the 3. What they said here is basically "it's easier to just shoot from anywhere than just lear the game the right way". Basketball is more than that. We just saw the Celtics lose to the Heat because they were awful fro 3 and dind't know how to attack zone with 2 top 15-20 players and some really good pieces. Players and coaching staff should be embarrassed about that.
I grew up playing football (soccer for you Americans) and only really started playing basketball late into my teens, and I was surprised at how similar your positional awareness has to be to actually play basketball to what we have in football. I'd seen NBA games before and I just assumed because of he court was so much smaller than a football pitch formations, positioning and the like didn't play much of a role and that it was all about 1v1s and individual skill (in my defense it's what the NBA tries to portray the game of basketball as) but only after I tried to actually play myself did I realise that if you learn how to be in the right place at the right time you instantly go from a liability to a decent player lol.
nikola jokic incoming finals mvp ‼️
lmao Heat in 6. Nuggets can’t defend and Jokic will be locked up be Heat zone defense and BAM
@@hanadhussein Yeah, like everyone said it already "Nuggets can't defense, they never reach finals" and look where they now lol. Nuggets in 5.
@@hanadhussein you haven’t learned…
Nuggets in 5
@@hanadhussein these two guys bellow.....am I right ...its gonna be easy game easy life , Nuggets in 4 , finals sweep .
“BIGG COOKERR 👨🍳 🔥” nah Datz crazy tuff 💀😭😭
Jokic a pressure cooker or a slow cooker fr
Cookic?
He does not feel underestimated, He is underestimated by the media and quasi-analysts. He came to the US to do an honest job for which he was paid, more than he had planned. When he finishes his career, I believe he will have a lot of offers to do something related to basketball. He will probably, in accordance with his nature, then withdraw from the public and devote himself to his family, friends and his hobbies.
Ngl jokic deserved mvp this season fasho jokic is very underrated
But he's not slow. He is deliberate. There's a big difference
People love to hate, that's what I feel it is. They want to downplay his game, because he's just that dominant.
Americans too much pride, it blinded them
JOKIC THE REAL MVP 🏆
MJ
Y all should blame Perkins, who brought race in this.
And how on earth do they relay on Perks to give any basketball take ins beyond me
With how the NBA is at the moment, it's a breath of fresh to see someone like Jokic who has monstrous stats is very indifferent and doesn't need to carry himself like a brand to draw people in. He loves Denver and Denver loves him.
He is not captivating? Because doesn't do flashy dunks or crossovers? It doesn't matter. The guy doesn't have any social media and doesn't care how he brands himself through the league, his ability and stats on the court speak for themselves. Not everyone has to have that swagger or "killer or mamba mentality" bs that everyone just loves to eat up like it's their own dung. The numbers do not lie and that's a cold hard fact. He just wants to win.
Nikola Jokic is an efficient scorer, an unusual facilitator like no other, and a rebound master. He's a monsters that can strike you from multiple directions. He's like a hydra.
The definition of a unicorn... Nikola Jokic.
As a kid who had an awkward game growing up I would always get clowned and ridiculed by my teammates. In middle school it pretty much destroyed my confidence and I stopped hooping entirely. I got back into it my freshman man year of college after the raptors had just won the title. I started watching the NBA again and instantly became a fan of Jokic. Ugly as hell and awkward as a mf on the court but he still sliced dudes up. Watching his success bolstered my confidence in my unorthodox play and now at 22 I’ve developed really solid game. I beat guys with hook shots, awkward catch and shoot 3s, little floaters, and one legged faders. What I lack in athleticism and handles I make up for with constant movement off the ball. I think that it’s great for kids to have all sorts of player types they can look up to now. It’s what makes basketball unique and beautiful, there’s so many ways to play it.
Jokic is very well conditioned. Dude is running turnovers and is all over the court.
He only looks unathletic
Right. The only thing he's not good at as far as athleticism goes is vertical jumping and lateral quickness. Straight line speed he's actually pretty fast. Foot work? Elite. His hands are the fastest in the NBA (and the softest in terms of catching the ball, controlling it, and his touch). Coordination, balance, all those skills he's elite. Timing, hand eye coordination, ability to put a pass right where it needs to be... those are all supreme athletic talents. And his mental processing is in the highest tier with guys like Magic and Nash if not above them (I'd say he is above all but maybe Magic).
He’s underrated because He’s white and slow . But more skilled than any player in the nba .
Definitely not the most skilled but definitely has high basketball iQ to put his teammates in position to deliver
I don't feel he's slow at all... He's a big guy and he certainly isn't any slower than other big guys that are centers like embiid for instance.
He ain't the slow...lol I'll tell you he runs faster than most in transition. For a big guy he sure does know how to get buckets. He has his own speed. You cant speed him up.
@@crimsoncloud6352 no he doesnt, bro is slow as shit
dudes also 7 foot, not much muscle but strong af, cant move him. he also has amazing post up play, couple that with his vision, playmaking and shooting??? damn.. all around player
I think Jokic is a mixture of Sabonis Bird Dirk Gasol and Zbo all wrapped up into one
don't leave out Olajuwan and Draymond
he dont have the defense like gasol but i understand your point
@@Justintweaks i think it’s a notch below but they both use positioning really well which is what i had in mind
@@the77th …
@@Justintweaks yeah... mostly offense
PG has a good point on the lack of a comparison for him the game is evolving. Exciting time to watch basketball
It's because Jokers'changing the Game and ppl still don't understand it, they will very, very soon
I agree, and I also think lead club players who chase more points will start to do more assists, and think how they can affect the game by including rest of the teammeats.
Nuggets, if they win a championship, will have proven formula, so we can expect some copy/paste might happen how other clubs approach the game in seasons to come.
@@Irena1106 man I hope the Nuggets do it , the franchise and fans deserve it
@@felix3033 🤞 Regardless of the outcome, I really enjoy watching Nugget boys doing the warrior dance around the ball. Denver people are so lucky right now just because of the atmosphere in the city, and the opportunity to witness all this live in the arena. We will be cheering very late on other side of the globe🤞
Saying Jokic is unathletic, while he's dominating one of the best, if not the best athletes in the world(NBA players are big, strong and fast, unlike any other sport) on a regular basis. When I say dominating, I'm not saying he's dropping 30pts on them, he's dropping 40pts TRIPLE DOUBLES, and WINNING 90% of the games when he gets a triple double. Best center ever, maybe he goes down as the greatest of all times, which is undeniable if he gets 5+ rings.
He's incredible. Pau comes to mind for the passing but Joker clearly has better range and is a better passer.
Bam reminds me of Pau as a passer. Jokic is tiers above
The one issue that I disagree with is all of the comments that Nicola is not athletic and he's slow he has a different body type than many of the superstars but I don't believe that he is unathletic and slow by a mile.
When guys say he is slow they don't mean he is really slow, it's just 99% of the guys in the NBA are insanely fast.
He doesn't have great foot speed. Definitely great for a 6'11 270 lb guy, elite even, but that is an issue. I mean, we just saw Embiid get cooked in space by Tatum all damn game seven. That's the tough thing about bigs in this era. But when you can still anchor the defense as a back line facilitator and dominate the glass, your offensive value can make you a net positive. Jokic has all-time offensive value.
@snow cash
Well, i dont see many running pass him that much for a slow dude
His saying that in comparison his probably more athletic than the average person
Jokic is underrated, becouse of the media and it constant attack on him.
His fans are annoying AF though
I was friends with NBA center who was almost 7' tall and you dont understand how strong these dudes are even if they dont have muscles showing like Olajuwon or Dwight Howard in his prime. You think because they dont look ripped that they are "soft" or not strong, but I promise you, these human giants are strong AF. When I was hanging with this NBA guy I mentioned, I could barely nudge him using all my strength and at that time I was about 220-230lbs with 5'10" height.
Which NBA center
@@felix3033 Darko Milicic
@@bokisuba9702 I see why you didn't want to name drop straight away 😂 but any top pick who played in the post has some serious strength.
@@Yabas00 everyone can "make fun of him" but dude made over $50 mil, spent 10 years in NBA and in the end, did more in his career than many other top 5 picks. His problem was mentality he had at the time (was very young), coming from another culture at such young age and never being given real chance as starter (was always back up to someone, probably because of things mentioned before). Besides those, his biggest mark on him is being in draft with Lebron, Bosh, Wade and Melo. That is probably strongest draft in history, so Darko was always fairly or unfairly being compared to them.
I don't think Jokic feels one way or another about being "rated" or "underrated".
I'm pretty sure he doesn't pay any attention to any of it.
I know he got bothered with the hate thrown at him visavi "race" and "stat-padding" and such - because it was not decent and was toxic to the core. He's a polite and decent human and that venom surprised him and bothered him.
It was good that it happened this early - as he obviously hardened his armor and closed that gap too.
Underrated? He doesn't even like getting any attention. Doesn't care. Goes there, does his business and goes home to enjoy his life.
Naagh, Jokic is well rooted and balanced human, this noise means nothing to him.
Facts well said
"Noise means nothing" 💪
Yeah, he doesn't care about the noise. He's just there to win
Stats doesn’t lie. He is a combination of Magic, Hakeem, Durant and Steph in one. Super underrated.
He is Magic with Dirk's shooting and Walton's back-to-the-basket game.
It’s because he’s so humble him and Duncan really just don’t want to draw attention to themselves
This is why Jokic is the goat
Hakeem called him "the one" to carry on the post move tradition with all of his moves and counter-moves. KG talked about how he's like a counter-puncher in the post. He can't jump. What he does isn't flashy (except for the passing). But WOW is he good.
I wonder if there will actually be any Jokić imitators. His effectiveness is largely predicated on his ability to see plays happen before they happen and counter his opponents in the post. I'm not sure we'll see a player come along soon who will be able to combine basketball IQ, touch, and post skill like he does simply because the passing is too difficult and the rest isn't flashy. I love watching him, but I suspect a player who imitated his game wouldn't look very good on a scouting report, even if they did come along. I suppose it's possible they'd get drafted simply because their effectiveness could be too great to be ignored, but I feel like it's very easy to have one key ingredient missing that makes the whole structure fall apart. I'd love to see it, though.
We already have a Jokic imitator in Sengun.
@@ryantristani5091 That's a fair point. Maybe it would be better to say that there may not be American Jokić imitators.
Sengun already has called Jokic his idol but Sengun needs many pieces in order for him to even sniff Jokic’s level. First is a better touch around the rim + refined post footwork. He loves to use his shot put as a floater but it can be wildly inaccurate. His footwork can be special at times but he looks like a newborn giraffe at other times as he tries to audible through double teams and traffic. Second is he needs to work on his mid range game not to mention his three point game. Jokic is unstoppable because he can fall back on that if the defense sags off him to cover cutters. Sengun does not have good form nor accuracy in the mid range yet. Thirdly, his defense leaves a lot to be desired. He doesn’t elevate as a rim protector similar to Jokic but he also has poor positioning due to his slower foot speed while Jokic has compensated by having better anticipation. Jokic is also like 3 inches taller so his length helps him overcome other deficiencies that Sengun can’t. Sengun already is the most impactful offensive player on the rockets but he is so many levels below where Jokic and the rest of the Euro big lineage are right now. His passing and awkward feel of the game does hint at the promise of him being able to be similar to Sabonis at the moment though
@@dylanbach8578 I never said he was a good imitation or a close one, because I know he isn't, but he's trying. At this point his really more like what Minnesota Wiggins was to Kobe or Jordan.
@@dylanbach8578 and yes I think he's much more likely to have a similar ceiling to Sabonis than Jokic, because Jokic is a once in a lifetime type of player.
It’s not a track & field event, it’s basketball. It’s about getting more points than the other team, not who can jump the highest. It’s absurd to say “he isn’t athletic” because he doesn’t have a 40” vertical and keeps his tongue in his mouth. Jokic plays 40 minutes a game so he has endurance. Jokic is considered the second strongest player in the league only behind Steven Adams. Jokic is 7’ but he has amazing touch, great hands, great vision, great foot work. He throws passes the length of the court with pinpoint accuracy. But you say he is “unathletic”? You have a very narrow, ignorant sense of athleticism.
Jokic’s Passing is like Magic
His shooting is like Bird
His fadeaway is like Dirk
Fundamentals like Tim Duncan
His Game IQ and ability to control the pace of a game is like LeBron
But his athleticism is like a player from your local YMCA pickup game.
Athleticism =/= dunking
Do not insult Jokic by comparing his iq to Lebron's.
@@strelicijum love it or hate it LeBron has one of the best game IQ’s in basketball history. That comes with experience but he’s always making the right play. Jokic is the same way in that regard. Knowing where his team and the opposing team will be on every play and using that knowledge to take advantage of the team’s strategy.
Jokic just plays basketball the right way 💪🏾💯🔥
that guy was so hurt about ad not being able to guard jokic lol
It's like Kareem and the skyhook. It's simple. It's not flashy. But it still just feels like there's nothing you can do about it.
He is our era’s Bill Walton
To bad Bill had tin foil for knees and feet. Never know how good.
If Kobe was still alive, he d ve done a 'details' on Jokic game, and y all dummies would ve understood instead of calling his game awkward. Kobe seemed to be the only one who understands the difference between how basketball is played abroad and how it should be played the right way. He was lamenting how the americans focus more on athletism and forget about the most important about the game which are fundamentals
Exactly
While I do agree that it’s difficult for people to wrap their heads around Joker and how he plays, I feel like it’s actually easier to relate to how he plays basketball as opposed to crazy athletic guys like Ja or Giannis. Cause if you think about it, there’s not a lot of flash in his game. It’s mostly about making the right decisions and being fundamentally sound (being built like a Serbian Superman helps as well though don’t get me wrong). It’s probably easier for the average person to emulate Jokić than it is with someone like Ja who’s naturally a gifted athlete
Podcast P is best P
Jokic and nuggets next dynasty
I'm just happy the warriors not in the finals again
😂😂😂
True but also I can’t stand the Heat
P knows ball man.
The main reason why i like Jokic he is down to earth!
Jokic is proof that past players could play today
They tell you the NBA is fast, more skilled now and they praise guys like Russ!!!
Jokic, who they say is slow, is turning them into fool school boys, including their "king"😅😅
They can t even understand his game, imagine what the Larry Bird, Magic could do to them...
@@smoothpace507 👏that’s wat I said looking at jokic “boy bird would tear this league up” I see bird as a mix of luka and jokic he’s 6’9/10 more agile then jokic bigger than luka efficient like jokic can dime if not better jus as good as them and had supreme confidence. Now you surround that player wit the spacing a less physical play plus the sports medicine and science of today!!!! 🤦♂️it would be insane
@@Jc-ly6pebird mental game would broke todays nba player... that man was harshh
Paul George. It's because your basketball IQ and fundamentals are far below Jokic. He's two steps ahead of you and the rest of the league before you even wake up. That's not hate just facts!
i feel like US basketball audience is consisted in mostly young black americans whom likes the guy to jump high, dunk on someone and mean mugging afterward. They don't care about the real basketball game. That even translate in the efficiency of a player. You can have 50 points shooting below 30%, they don't care as long is a 50 piece. That's why Joker is hard to sell to this type of audience. He can walk away with 25/15/15 with high efficiency and a win, and the kids will still be not impressed because he does not have a dunk on the highlights.
100 percent agreed, I go to rec runs and all this new generation want to do is be flashy and showboat after every made 3
I d call it muscles and less brain. Monkey behavior. Dont @me, i am black too
Arvydas Sabonis is his comparison. The stats aren’t close but they’re very similar players. We never got to see a prime Sabonis in the NBA too but if we did, it would look like Joker
It really is a damn shame that Sabonis wasn't able to join the league before his knees were shot. Even going at half speed, his skill set was terrifying.
I think that jokic being "fat" and not able to jump/move around quickly has had a major impact on him developing his positioning and anticipation...
What people who didn't follow him right from the beginning in NBA don't know is that once coach Malone heavily criticized him for not being aggressive and not taking enough of shots and Jokic went to next match and didn't shoot a single shot entire match, LOL.
Gotta watch the tape but Jokic to put it, simple words just gets it done know matter what.
Jokic is a true basketball savant, people don't realize it yet but a dynasty is in the making at Denver
He will be a future legend.
he's like Tim Duncan
unselfish team first guy
Duncan did not get his teammates involved like Jokic. He relied on Parker and Ginobili for that. Jokic is a one way passing machine 360 degree direction.
Jokic is the engine of a team, when they don't play through him, you can see their game getting worse right away.
Jokic is a unicorn on the court. There is no comparison to him.
a mix of hakeem footwork luka passing and playstlye just with a Duncan shot selection
This is the reason why many say that Larry Bird can be monstrous in this era. He was a heady player and was really good on how to maximize his abilities as against his opponents. Plus, bird was a cold blooded assasin like MJ.
To put better context, Kobe in one interview once said that as a student of the game, he queried the lakers 80s and was asking why they were calling bird great when he was as slow asf.
that look jackie gave dallas when he started talking bout ad had me DYING
"Ain't nothing like me except me" - Nikola "Rocket Racoon" Jokic
We want this celebrate the intersection of statistical mastery of the game and the kind of graceful poetic thing that Jordan encapsulates.
It’s kind of like CR7’s later years. He stopped being flashy, but he was still scoring goals every game. People were calling in Tapinaldo for all the easy tap in goals he was scoring, but why don’t you see anyone else getting 50 goals a season on easy goals, he’s doing something no one else is doing.
"Anthony Davis did okay." Lmao, dude was seething at Joker making his team well done
As a Serbian coach can confirm, the trick is to teach the kids when they are young that they can play any position.And then you get a 7 foot guy that can do anything on the court.
Thanks a lot...
"they got swept, not us" lmao
Nikola Jokić writes HISTORY!
Nikola Jokić is the GOAT!🏆
Just watch him!✌️
Why is there no talk about the fact they run actions on jokers catch
“they got swept not us”😭😭😭
Joker should be called the Head Chef, he literally orchestrating the kitchen. Or the Conductor.
Of course the Lakers fan gets defensive on the slightest mention of Jokic giving it to AD 😂
Couple of years from now? Dude will be playing til he is 40 if he wishes. His style and game is soft on his body. He plays with his mind as much as his physical traits.
He reminds me of Aryvdas Sabonis.
PG, you could describe to us a little bit his sombor shuffle that he threw over your head when you played 200% defense, I remember it, I'm sure you remember it too.
“They got swept not us”😂😂😂
Jokic is the best center in this era he may be top 10 all time
0:17 AYYYYYYYY-
BIG COOKER!!!!
It;s called INTELLIGENCE.
New name for Jokic the chef
It's become a trend to talk about how underrated jokic is. Every single media outlet / podcast is putting out content on how underrated he is and every one of them seems to blame the "media". Something doesn't add up there -- some of these outlets need to put out an apology for not rating him earlier
It is simple-people that do not appreciate Jokić don't know and don't understand the game of basketball!!Not to mention he's a great example of a good person.
Jokic is underrated because of ESPN, but soon they will eat those words...
“Anthony Davis did ok.”
*awkward silence*
😂
She was wonderful
It’s always about the Lakers. Even the Jokic vid had to include AD. Joker is better than AD could ever hope to be.
Jokić is so athletic he teaches you a lesson, run smarter not faster. He's schooling everyone out there. If you base basketball out of athleticism then Jokić must be the most athletic out there.
If your kids can't emulate and recreate Jokic game, you might have to start teaching them the fundamentals of the game better... Is not a Jokic problem is a "you" problem
He's so awkward fr. He looks like he can't run, can't dribble, can't shoot. But you look up and see bro is cooking you😂
there is hes amazing wilt,magic, larry etc all in one the goat full package player can do it all
They’re legitimately like the new day spurs, will they win anywhere near the amount Duncan spurs did who knows but I’m here for it
Tim Duncun was similar I mean his game was boring.. but jokic has elite passing.
Non-US players always take a lot of time to get recognition. People like Hakeem, Gasol, Nowitzki, Giannis, Jokic, always got recognition years after they'd started dominating. It's culture, in the sense that Americans blow their own trumpet, and non-Americans do it less. It's also that Americans struggle to recognise great players that don't play American.
PG wife is Serbian like Joker
It’s the skin color
He might be like a young Arvydas, with less defence?
I really wonder what would have happened if Arvydas joined the leauge in 1986. How would the NBA game have changed. Would the big men that were in high school and younger changed up thier style.
Arvydas was a true center 7'3 monster dunking on people, their games and playstyle were much different. Jokic is like a giant point guard that can still bang in the paint and is a sharpshooter.