Stephen A. Smith once famously declared that Nikola Jokic could never be a “super mega star” because he “wasn’t doing anything kids want to see.” He argued that the Serbian center lacked the flash, the athleticism, and the marketing appeal to capture the imagination of the basketball world.
In the 2026 NBA season, Nikola Jokic isn’t just proving Stephen A. wrong; he is dismantling the entire logic of what a superstar is supposed to look like. According to a new video breakdown, the “slow, doughy” big man who once recorded the lowest vertical jump in P3 Sports Science Lab history (17 inches) is currently putting together a statistical campaign that defies physics and history.
The “Impossible” Stat Line
The headline statistic is mind-bending: Nikola Jokic is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists in the same season.
“Think about that,” the video commentary urges. “A center controlling the glass and running the entire offense at the same time. That’s unheard of.”
Legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson never achieved this specific dual dominance. Jokic is doing it while averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. He is effectively playing point guard and center simultaneously, operating at a level of efficiency (often cited as “cheat code” numbers) that makes the rest of the league look like they are moving in slow motion.
The Christmas Day Masterpiece
The video highlights a specific performance that epitomizes this dominance: a Christmas Day clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In a game that went into overtime, Jokic didn’t just put up numbers; he orchestrated a symphony.
He finished with 56 points, 15 assists, and 16 rebounds. But the kicker was the overtime period, where he scored 18 points in just five minutes, snapping an NBA record for scoring in a single overtime session. He didn’t do it with explosive dunks; he did it with floaters, precise footwork, and a calmness that bordered on indifference.
Shattering Records
Beyond the rebounds and assists, Jokic is assaulting the triple-double record books. In his first 32 games of the season, he recorded 16 triple-doubles. At this pace, he is tracking to finish with 48, which would smash Russell Westbrook’s single-season record of 42.
He also became the fastest player to reach 15,000 points, 7,500 rebounds, and 5,000 assists, achieving the milestone faster than Larry Bird.
Intellectual Dominance
The recurring theme of the analysis is the triumph of “intellectual dominance” over “athletic dominance.” In 2014, scouts labeled Jokic a “second-round gamble” because he couldn’t jump. Today, that lack of athleticism is his greatest strength. Because he cannot rely on speed, he has mastered angles, timing, and leverage. He doesn’t overpower opponents; he outthinks them.
“He’s rewriting the rules in real time,” the report states. “He is playing chess while the rest of the league is still learning checkers.”
Conclusion
Stephen A. Smith was right about one thing: Jokic doesn’t play like the superstars of the past. But he was wrong about the result. Fans do care, because they are witnessing something they have never seen before. Nikola Jokic has turned the “boring” fundamentals of basketball into the most unstoppable force in the sport, proving that you don’t need a 40-inch vertical to stand above everyone else.
