Ahead of his fifth All-Star appearance, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has given rare praise to one of his on court rivals, Dallas guard Luka Doncic.
Both players are having an outstanding season, with Jokic currently averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists on 63.2 percent shooting from the field, while Doncic is averaging 33.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists on 50.5 percent shooting from the field.
Jokic is gunning for his third straight league MVP. The only other players to achieve this in NBA history are Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, but the big center doesn’t want you to discount Doncic.
“He’s a one-man army,” Jokic said. “He’s the guy who can destroy you. Who can really manipulate the game the right way. There is no good matchup for him. If he has a smaller guy, he’s gonna post him up. If he has a bigger guy, he’s gonna go by him. He has a deadly step-back. He is a really, really unique player, and he is a really good guy.”
Jokic went on to praise Doncic’s basketball brain which is big coming from a player whose own skill and IQ are why he is so talented. Plus, he also thinks Doncic is just an all round great guy.
“He has a really, really, really, big basketball IQ. He has a really good view, seeing the floor really on a different level. Basketball-wise, he’s a really, really unique player. And the personal, he’s a really good guy. Like a guy you can hang out with.”
The Nuggets are the favorites in the West and have looked very sharp as of late, but if for any reason they don’t make the Finals Jokic says he would love Doncic to win it all.
“If we don’t make it, Luka of course,” Jokic said. “He’s my really good friend. That’s about it.”