The Unbearable Weight of Greatness: Why the NBA Can’t Stop Comparing Itself to Nikola Jokić
In the modern NBA, the news cycle moves at the speed of a fast break. Legacies are minted on Monday and dismantled by Thursday. Over the last week, we have seen the full spectrum of this volatility: from Victor Wembanyama’s bold assertions of hierarchy to Alperen Şengün’s post-game frustrations in Denver.
Yet, as the noise around the league reaches a fever pitch, one man remains the eye of the storm. Nikola Jokić doesn’t engage in the “who’s better” discourse. He doesn’t lobby for calls. He doesn’t check his box scores. He simply dismantles the opposition with the surgical precision of a grandmaster, leaving coaches and players alike searching for answers—or, in the case of the Houston Rockets, searching for excuses.
I. The Wembanyama Reality Check
The week began with a ripple of controversy. Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ “Alien” and the most hyped prospect since LeBron James, made waves by implying that he, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo, had surpassed the reigning three-time MVP.
In the NBA, confidence is a requirement. But the basketball gods have a way of balancing the scales. Mere days after those comments, Wembanyama found himself in the pressure cooker of the NBA Cup championship game against the New York Knicks. The result was a sobering reminder of the gap between potential and proven dominance. Wembanyama finished with a pedestrian 18 points and 6 rebounds on a lackluster 7-for-17 shooting performance.
While the young Frenchman struggled to find his rhythm under the bright lights, “The Joker” was busy delivering a clinic. In his most recent outing, Jokić posted 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists—his 176th career triple-double. It was a statistical monument that moved him within five of Oscar Robertson and 31 of Russell Westbrook for the all-time lead.
The contrast was jarring: while the challengers talked about the throne, the King was busy rebuilding the castle.
II. A Night of History and High Stakes in the Mile High City
The matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets was circled on many calendars for one reason: the battle of the “Point Centers.” Alperen Şengün, often dubbed “Baby Jokić” for his creative passing and elite footwork, was facing his idol.
The game lived up to the hype, at least on the stat sheet. For the first time in NBA history, two opposing centers recorded 30-point triple-doubles in the same game. It was a masterclass in the evolution of the position. Both players orchestrated their offenses from the high post, threading needles through tight windows and bullying defenders in the paint.
However, once the final buzzer sounded and the Nuggets secured the victory, the historic nature of the evening was quickly overshadowed by the rhetoric coming out of the visitors’ locker room.
The Ref-Centric Narrative
In the aftermath, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Alperen Şengün chose to focus on the officiating rather than the 39-point hurricane they had just witnessed. Udoka, never one to mince words, launched a scathing critique of the crew.
“Just in general, I think it’s the most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time,” Udoka said. “The crew chief is acting starstruck. You’re seeing all kinds of inconsistent calls.”
Udoka’s frustration was palpable, but the data told a different story. While the Rockets claimed the refs were “starstruck” by Jokić, the foul count suggested a high level of accountability for the Nuggets’ defense. Both of Denver’s primary big men—Nikola Jokić and Jonas Valančiūnas—actually fouled out of the game.
It is a rare sight to see a superstar of Jokić’s stature disqualified from a game, yet it happened. If there was a bias toward the “star,” it was remarkably well-hidden.
III. The “Baby Jokić” Paradox
The most telling moment of the night came from Alperen Şengün himself. When asked if he felt he received the same whistle as Jokić, Şengün’s response was a mixture of frustration and aspiration.
“No,” Şengün admitted. “He’s a two-time MVP. I’m sure he wasn’t getting the calls when he was my age, too. Eventually, I’ll get there. He did the work to get those fouls. But it’s hard to guard him when you basically can’t touch him.”
While Şengün’s honesty is refreshing, his focus on “foul drawing” highlights a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes Jokić great. Jokić doesn’t dominate because of the whistle; he dominates despite it. For years, the Nuggets have lobbied the league office regarding the scratches and bruises Jokić endures every night—physicality that often goes uncalled because of his massive frame.
The Erasure of Individual Identity
For Şengün, the “Baby Jokić” nickname has become a double-edged sword. It provides a blueprint for his game, but it also creates a shadow he has yet to step out of. By focusing on the officiating, Şengün inadvertently framed his performance in the context of what he doesn’t have yet, rather than what he did—which was go toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
IV. The Grace of the Great: Jokić’s Response
While the Rockets were airing grievances, Nikola Jokić was doing what he always does: deflecting credit and elevating others. When asked about the comparison to Şengün, Jokić’s response was a masterclass in leadership and sportsmanship.
“People need to stop comparing us,” Jokić said firmly. “I think he’s an amazing player by himself. He needs to be recognized for who he is—as Alperen Şengün, not whoever people are comparing him to.”
Jokić went on to provide a detailed scouting report on his young opponent, praising his low-post footwork, his pocket passing, and his developing mid-range game.
This is the “Jokić Way.” He doesn’t need to put others down to maintain his standing. He doesn’t need to remind the media that he just put up a 30-point triple-double while the other guy was complaining about fouls. He understands that his play is “undeniable,” and therefore, he can afford to be generous.
V. Recalibrating Greatness
What we are witnessing in Denver is a recalibration of NBA greatness. For decades, we defined dominance through the lens of athleticism (Michael Jordan), sheer force (Shaquille O’Neal), or relentless scoring (Kobe Bryant).
Jokić is none of those things. He is a 7-foot slow-motion maestro who wins through geometry and psychology.
The Routine of Excellence
The reason the discourse around Jokić often feels “detached from reality,” as the video points out, is that we have become desensitized to his brilliance.
176 Triple-Doubles: A number that used to be a lifetime achievement is now a standard Tuesday night for Jokić.
The Triple-Double Chase: He is no longer competing against his peers; he is competing against the ghosts of Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
The Efficiency: He isn’t just accumulating stats; he is doing so with shooting splits that would make a specialist blush.
Every few weeks, the media cycle attempts to crown a “New King.” Whether it’s the defensive gravity of Wembanyama, the scoring outbursts of Luka Dončić, or the two-way brilliance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Yet, when the postseason arrives or the “clutch” minutes of the NBA Cup begin, the game inevitably returns to Jokić’s rhythm.
VI. Conclusion: The Silence and the Storm
The disparity between the post-game quotes from Houston and the post-game quotes from Denver tells the story of the current NBA hierarchy.
One side is still searching for reasons why they lost—blaming the refs, the “starstruck” officials, and the lack of calls. They are looking outward for validation.
The other side—the Denver side—is looking inward and looking forward. Jokić’s career is a testament to the idea that true dominance doesn’t need a megaphone. It doesn’t need to claim it’s the best on a podcast or in a locker room interview. It just shows up, night after night, until the critics have nothing left to say.
Years from now, the history books won’t remember Ime Udoka’s rant or Şengün’s complaints about the whistle. They will remember a night in Denver where two centers made history, and where one of them—the one with the “Joker” on his jersey—proved once again that he is the standard by which all others are measured.
Quiet, relentless, and impossible to ignore. That is the legacy of Nikola Jokić.
