Nikola Jokic Is Redefining NBA Dominance—So Why Won’t the World Give Him His Flowers?
There’s a paradox at the heart of the modern NBA. Every season, fans and analysts alike clamor for something new—fresh faces, innovative play, records shattered. Yet, when history is being made right before our eyes, the response is often muted. No player embodies this contradiction more than Nikola Jokic.
Jokic is doing things on the basketball court that were previously reserved for legends—Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Bill Russell. He’s stacking triple-doubles, breaking efficiency records, and leading his team to wins with a supporting cast that’s often battered and incomplete. Yet, despite his brilliance, Jokic remains underrated, underappreciated, and—if the latest MVP odds are to be believed—almost invisible to the broader basketball world.
Why is this happening? What does Jokic have to do to be recognized as one of the game’s true greats? Let’s dive deep into the numbers, the narratives, and the history he’s rewriting.
The Historic Feats: Jokic’s Wilt-Like Numbers
Last night, Nikola Jokic pulled off something straight out of the NBA’s mythic past. He posted a 30-point triple-double on over 70% shooting—a feat so rare that only Wilt Chamberlain had ever done it before. Now, Jokic owns the record for the most 30-point triple-doubles on 70% shooting or better, a stat so elite most players can’t even imagine touching it.
This isn’t just a statistical anomaly. It’s history book stuff. Jokic isn’t just matching Wilt—he’s surpassing him in categories that were once thought untouchable. Wilt Chamberlain is the NBA’s ultimate outlier, a player whose records often come with asterisks and conspiracy theories. There are entire internet forums dedicated to questioning whether Wilt’s 100-point game even happened. Jokic, meanwhile, is making the impossible routine.
Why the Disrespect? The MVP Paradox
Despite these feats, Jokic is only third in MVP odds, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The question hangs in the air: What else does he need to do?
Consider the context. Jokic is carrying Denver every night, even when the roster is falling apart. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon—a pair of borderline All-Stars—have missed significant time. Jokic remains the constant, dragging the Nuggets to 50-plus wins year after year, holding the team together with duct tape and wizardry.
He’s not just posting numbers; he’s delivering wins. He’s doing it with lineups that, on paper, should struggle. Yet, the respect still feels light. Why?
The Loneliness of Greatness: Jokic’s Supporting Cast
One of the most overlooked aspects of Jokic’s legacy is his supporting cast. Despite Denver’s success, Jokic has never had a true perennial All-Star teammate in his 11-year career. Jamal Murray, while brilliant in flashes, has struggled with injuries and has never played more than 65 games in a season since 2018-19. Aaron Gordon is solid, but not a franchise cornerstone.
Contrast this with other MVPs. LeBron James had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. Steph Curry played alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Even Giannis has Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Jokic’s supporting cast is often patchwork—yet he keeps winning.
Breaking Wilt’s Records: Availability and Consistency
Availability is everything in the NBA. Jokic doesn’t just show up—he dominates. While others sit, Jokic keeps cooking like a machine. He’s rewriting history in real time, and it’s about time people stop acting blind.
Jokic’s triple-double record for centers has now surpassed Wilt Chamberlain. He’s not just matching Wilt’s numbers; he’s doing it in an era of unprecedented athleticism and defensive complexity.
The Unorthodox Genius: Jokic’s Playing Style
Jokic’s style is unlike anything the league has ever seen. He plays at his own pace—never rushed, never flustered. He’s strong, unmovable, and makes shots that look impossible. His game is all angles, anticipation, and decisions.
Opponents admit that guarding Jokic is a nightmare. He doesn’t jump high, doesn’t run fast, and yet you can’t speed him up or move him off his spot. He doesn’t flop for free throws; he’s not trying to bait the refs. He’s just playing basketball at a level that’s almost unfair.
Every shot looks awkward, unorthodox, and then it goes straight in. Jokic’s efficiency is off the charts: 25 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists per game, and a true shooting percentage over 70%. These are video game numbers, and Jokic makes it look easy.
The Ultimate Floor Raiser
The true measure of a superstar isn’t just individual stats—it’s the ability to elevate any lineup. Last night, Denver started Cam Johnson, Payton Watson, Christian Braun, and Jaylen Pickett. That’s not a superstar lineup, yet the Nuggets won 117-100.
Jokic is the ultimate floor raiser. Any lineup, any situation, no matter how thin or inexperienced, he drags it straight to a win. There is nobody in today’s league who does what he does. He’s the most valuable player in basketball. No debate.
The MVP Voting Problem: Media Politics vs. Basketball Reality
So why isn’t Jokic leading the MVP race? The answer seems to lie in media politics as much as basketball logic. Voters are locked in on pushing new narratives—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis, Luka Doncic, even Victor Wembanyama. But the numbers don’t lie.
Last season, Shea’s biggest MVP argument was plus-minus. He led the league, with Jokic right behind him. But context matters. Shea played on one of the deepest, most stacked rosters in years, while Jokic carried a half-broken squad. This season, Jokic leads the NBA in plus-minus, 50 points ahead of Shea, despite playing fewer games.
Jokic’s dominance in win shares, PER, and advanced metrics is unmatched. Yet, Vegas still has him sitting back in third for MVP odds. That’s not basketball logic—it’s narrative inertia.
The Inner Circle: Jokic’s Place in History
If Jokic wins a fourth MVP, he joins a list that only legends can touch: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. That’s it. That’s the entire list. Right now, Jokic sits next to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with three MVPs each. One more, and he breaks into the sacred inner circle.
This is history-level greatness, and yet, the media hesitates. Why? Is it because Jokic doesn’t fit the traditional superstar mold? Is it his unassuming personality, his lack of flashy dunks, his refusal to chase headlines?
The Bird Comparison: Skill Over Speed
Jokic’s game is often compared to Larry Bird—a player who wasn’t fast, didn’t jump high, but dominated with skill, anticipation, and decision-making. Jokic is fantastic: great hands, scores in every way, involves all his teammates, and is the head of the snake for Denver.
He’s redefining what it means to be a center. He’s a 7-foot-1 playmaker, initiating offense, throwing passes from one side of the court to the other, threading bounce passes through defenses. You can’t guard him in the post; he’s too big, too skilled, too smart.
The Critique: What Does Jokic Need to Do?
Every season, Jokic gets better. Every season, he breaks records we didn’t even know existed. And every season, the skepticism gets louder. Last year looked impossible to top, and somehow, he’s doing exactly that right now.
He’s redefining dominance while people act like it’s normal. It’s not. This is a once-in-a-generation player putting up numbers we may never see again.
So what more does Jokic need to do? Drop 100 points on live TV just to get a fair vote? The bar keeps moving, and the respect remains elusive.
The Impact: Jokic’s Influence on Basketball
Jokic’s impact goes beyond box scores and MVP trophies. He’s changing how the center position is played. Young players now model their games after his—valuing vision, passing, and skill over brute force.
His ability to elevate role players, create advantages, and make the game easier for everyone else is reminiscent of the greatest leaders in NBA history. When Jokic is on the floor, the offense becomes unpredictable, the defense becomes more focused, and the team plays with a confidence that’s hard to quantify.
The Legacy Question: Will People Appreciate Jokic in Time?
History has a way of catching up to greatness. Players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird were underappreciated in their day, only to be celebrated as icons decades later. Jokic may be on the same path.
Right now, the numbers say he’s one of the greatest ever. The eye test says he’s unstoppable. The impact on his team says he’s invaluable. Yet, the world hesitates to give him his flowers.
Will people only appreciate Jokic years from now, when the records have been set and the highlights are all that remain? Or will the basketball world finally wake up to the reality of his dominance?
Conclusion: Give Jokic His Flowers—Before It’s Too Late
Nikola Jokic is putting up video game numbers, breaking records, and carrying his team to wins night after night. He’s the most valuable player in basketball, and yet, the respect is lagging behind the reality.
The media may be slow to embrace him, but the numbers don’t lie. Jokic is already an all-time great, and every season, he’s redefining what we thought possible from a center.
It’s time to stop moving the goalposts. It’s time to stop acting blind. It’s time to give Jokic his flowers—before we look up and realize we’re witnessing history in real time.
