The NBA landscape has witnessed shifts in power, dazzling ascensions, and bitter rivalries, but rarely has a player commanded such undisputed, fundamental deference from his peers as Nikola Jokic does today. The Serbian superstar, often referred to simply as “The Joker,” isn’t just accumulating MVP trophies and historic stat lines; he is redefining the league’s power structure with a quiet, unmatched brilliance that has prompted rivals and former critics alike to line up and sing his praise. The most compelling evidence of his reign is not found in the box scores, but in the astonished admissions of the league’s best defenders, the candid gratitude of his rivals, and, most astonishingly, the miraculous career revival of a complicated superstar whose partnerships with other legends had previously ended in spectacular failure.
Jokic has ruled the NBA in recent years, stacking multiple MVPs and positioning himself for yet another as he continues to operate on a plane few players in the history of the sport have ever touched. This is unquestionably the Jokic era—his league, his pace, his influence. But the true measure of his impact became clear when one of the game’s most polarizing and electrifying forces, Russell Westbrook, experienced a career renaissance that can only be attributed to the singular gravity of The Joker.
The Russell Westbrook Miracle: A Spark Reignited
At 35, Russell Westbrook is playing some of his most meaningful basketball in years, a resurgence that critics and fans never saw coming. It’s a late-career comeback that stands as a profound testament to Jokic’s unmatched ability to elevate the players around him. For years, Westbrook was viewed as the ultimate superstar challenge, a force whose sheer talent seemed incompatible with other elite players, often leading to spectacular team breakdowns.
His partnership with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City ultimately crumbled, paving the way for Durant’s departure. His pairing with James Harden in Houston failed to make the Rockets real contenders. Most notably, his tenure with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles became an international symbol of dysfunction, exposing a clashing of styles that not even the legendary LeBron could smooth over. Not even one of the greatest players of all time could reignite Westbrook’s spark.
Yet, somehow, Jokic has done exactly that.
Under The Joker’s influence, Westbrook is finally making winning plays again, successfully leaning into his explosive strengths while keeping his notorious weaknesses in check. For the first time in years, Westbrook looks fully energized, thriving beside Jokic with a chemistry that appears seasoned and intuitive. As Westbrook himself openly praised, playing with Jokic has “completely changed the way he approaches the game.” It is this level of genuine gratitude—not just admiration—from a teammate whose legacy was being questioned, that carries a different, heavier weight. It is a powerful statement that validates Jokic’s dominance not just as a scorer, but as an irreplaceable engine of winning basketball.
The Deference of Rivals: Embiid and Green Yield the Floor
The praise for Jokic stretches far beyond his teammates, extending to the competitors who arguably stand closest to him in the league’s upper echelon. The debate over the league’s top player has been a fixture of recent seasons, particularly concerning the rivalry with Joel Embiid. While Embiid may have earned an MVP award in a year many felt belonged to Jokic, the gap between the two centers has only become more obvious in recent years, especially considering Jokic’s historic playoff runs and back-to-back MVP honors.
Even Embiid, a fiercely competitive player, has acknowledged the reality on the court. Proof of the mutual respect shared between the two elite big men came after a matchup when Embiid revealed his message to his rival: “Thank you for making me better,” he said. Embiid called it an “honor and a pleasure to play against someone so talented and so skilled,” a telling compliment that acknowledges Jokic as the one truly controlling the league right now.
Perhaps the most stunning admission, however, came from the man famous for his defensive genius and no-filter honesty, Draymond Green. Green has spent years studying both stars, and his conclusion is firm and unequivocal: Jokic plays on a “completely different level” than Embiid.
In a stunning admission from a player who rarely grants this kind of credit, Green firmly says Jokic is “far more difficult to guard.” What makes this even more striking is the respect Green shows for a player he would normally trash talk; instead, he openly thanks Jokic for pushing him to become a better defender with every matchup. Green emphasized how rare Jokic’s mix of skill, strength, IQ, physicality, and toughness truly is, explaining that the Serbian superstar isn’t just a tough cover; he’s a “one-of-one archetype the league has almost never seen.”
Lillard’s Powerful Declaration: The Best Player vs. The MVP
While analysts often quibble over statistical metrics and MVP narratives, the players themselves tend to see the game with a clear, uncompromising eye. No message captured this clarity better than that of superstar Damian Lillard. Having been on the receiving end of Jokic’s dominance for years, Lillard recently declared on social media that Jokic is, without question, the best player in the league.
Lillard’s praise went a step further, specifically mentioning Joel Embiid and noting that while Embiid may earn MVP honors, there is a fundamental difference between being the MVP and being the actual best player in basketball. In Lillard’s eyes, a man who knows elite scoring better than almost anyone, that crown belongs squarely to Jokic.
Lillard’s endorsement carries significant weight because he highlights Jokic’s “all-time shot making ability,” something Lillard is uniquely qualified to judge. He is absolutely right to point out how ridiculous Jokic’s efficiency and precision are, confirming that The Joker is a complete basketball player who does a bit of everything, making him a truly unique force in the modern game. This perspective is echoed by Domantas Sabonis, whose own game leans heavily on playmaking and rebounding, who has repeatedly celebrated Jokic’s elite passing and all-around force.
The Humble Genius: Horses and the Downtroth Personality
The final, compelling layer to Jokic’s dominance is the profound contrast between his on-court intensity and his surprisingly laid-back, humble nature off the court. While on the floor he is a basketball wrecking ball who overwhelms every team in his path, off the court he is calm, relaxed, and notoriously distant from the spotlight.
Teammates like Michael Porter Jr. have offered a rare inside look at the man behind the historic performances. Porter Jr., a player whose career has been elevated by Jokic’s brilliance, has shared stories that reveal The Joker’s surprisingly “humble downtroth personality.” One of the most endearing and humorous details fans have learned is his deep love for the horses he raises back home in Serbia.
Porter Jr. revealed that this passion is an all-consuming part of Jokic’s life. According to Green, Jokic spends his off-season in Serbia “drinking beer and watching horses,” and he likely didn’t even touch a basketball. Yet, somehow, he still managed to get better. Teammates often find him watching horse races on his phone during training camp, a charming, almost humorous contrast to the unstoppable force he becomes when he steps onto the NBA court.
This refusal to be defined by the spotlight, this quiet dedication to his life in Serbia, only enhances the legend. It proves that a player can reach the absolute pinnacle of their sport—dominating rivals, silencing critics, and resurrecting careers—without the requisite celebrity obsession that defines other superstars.
Jokic is not merely playing at an MVP level; he is operating with a transcendent influence that makes the game simpler for his teammates and painfully complex for his opponents. When a complicated superstar like Westbrook is rejuvenated, when defensive geniuses like Green openly thank you, and when generational scorers like Lillard declare you the undisputed king, the statistical arguments fade away. Nikola Jokic’s dominance is now a matter of unanimous decree, cementing his place in history as a quiet, horse-loving genius whose power is perhaps best measured by the sheer astonishment he inspires in the faces of those he defeats. His reign is complete, and the most frightening truth for the rest of the league is that he shows no signs of slowing down.
