It’s tough to imagine that Nikola Jokic has already been within the NBA for a decade. The 2024-25 season marks his tenth 12 months within the league, and February 19 is his thirtieth birthday. Seen because the icon of the European takeover of the NBA, Jokic is already cemented as the best European participant in NBA historical past — nevertheless it’s straightforward to miss that he’s additionally had among the finest 10-year runs within the historical past of the affiliation.
Jokic’s profession has not been about defying expectations, however redefining them. Proof optimistic that consciousness and method can thrive in a sport that places a premium on athleticism. The dad-bod within the center, Jokic has risen above his friends to make the Nuggets among the finest groups within the NBA over the course of his profession — one thing that different stars in Denver struggled with persistently previously.
Whereas Jokic’s brilliance has all the time been couched in “finest European,” or “finest massive man,” the fact is that his 10 years within the NBA places him amongst a few of the best gamers within the historical past of the game.
- Invoice Russell (1956-1966): 5x MVP, 9x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1979): 6x MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 9 x NBA All-Star
- Larry Chook (1979-1989): 3x MVP, 3x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Michael Jordan (1984-1995): 3x MVP, 3x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- LeBron James (2003-2013): 4x MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Nikola Jokic (2015-2025): 3x MVP, 1x NBA Champion, 7x NBA All-Star
These are the one six gamers within the historical past of the NBA who gained MVP at the very least thrice, and had been named to 5 or extra NBA All-Star video games of their first 10 seasons. Jokic’s season isn’t finished but, and whereas he and the Nuggets really feel like outsiders for profitable the NBA championship this 12 months, the door remains to be open.
Amongst these six gamers solely Russell, Kareem, Chook, and now Jokic managed to common over a double-double of their first 10 seasons. This reveals that not solely does Jokic’s particular person awards warrant advantage, however his statistics stand among the many greats.
It’s previous time to take away any qualifiers from Jokic’s legacy. To easily respect him as among the finest gamers of all time. Even when his profession remains to be ongoing. We gave this degree of deference to LeBron, now it’s Nikola’s flip.
