Top 25 NBA Players: Nikola Jokic UNSTOPPBALE, Nuggets will bounce back | Hoops Tonight
Jason Timpf concludes his Top 25 players in the NBA rankings with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Jason breaks down why the NBA’s reigning MVP is nearly impossible to defend and what he expects from Jokic and the Nuggets following a disappointing playoff exit to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. Later, Jason answers listener questions during an NBA Mailbag segment.
Watch Luka Doncic & Giannis Antetokounmpo Ranking here: https://youtu.be/aHelGy0eOwU
Timeline:
00:00 – Introduction
02:21 – #1: Nikola Jokic
28:27 – NBA Mailbag
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#nba #nuggets #nikolajokic #denvernuggets #jamalmurray #nbafinals #nbaplayoffs #playoffs #basketball #sports #nbabasketball #nbahighlights #lukadoncic #luka
29 Comments
ngl the "happy friday everyone" really threw me off man
The NFL is so trash now.
Hey Jason, a quick mailbag question. A little late considering the list is already done, but oh well. You've mentioned how you've dropped players like Steph and Bron for a dip in their motor during the regular season and bumped players like Tatum for his consistency in the 82. At what point do you value the benefit a player brings in a playoff series over what a player can do in the 82? Are their diminishing returns for the regular season?
Love the show! Really appreciate your basketball insights over the same drama-driven rhetoric we see on ESPN!
Wow! Great job with the rankings! I really love your show and appreciate your analysis and dedication. I am learning a lot about a game I’ve always enjoyed watching but never played much. All three of my sons play. My oldest even plays pro ball in Japan. Your show helps me have more informed conversations with my sons, and I can’t thank you enough for that. Keep up the good work. P.S. I understand your reasoning, but I would still put Giannis at number one, because of how good he is on both ends of the court.
I enjoyed your list, and I’m not mad about any of the rankings, even though I just don’t like some of the players that were above players I do like. It seemed informed, thoughtful, and measured.
Great list Jason. Good stuff
Can you do a video on super stars fit with their current teams? For example, who fits well and who needs change to happen before they maximize their impact on their team’s success. Maybe Best Fit, Worst Fit.
Oh my you didn't put your god LeFraud number 1? Hack!
Bro Jokic is a good defender lmao I thought we buried this tired ass narrative that he’s bad on that end.
Bron and Steph weren’t allowed to have 2nd round flameouts in their prime with championship rosters. They would’ve been cooked by the whole NBA World. I like Jokic but he gets passes that past guys never got.
Mailbag question: I would like to address your last 2 points for why you have Jokic over Luka. I don't think score percentage is really that relevant of a stat. It is really only important if it is exactly the last position of a game and you are down 1 or the game is tied. In all other cases it still matters whether you make a 2 or a 3. Take the stepback from Luka over Gobert for example. The fact that it was a 3 totally made a difference there since it wins it for you whereas a 2 would have only tied.
In regards to the defence I agree that Jokic is the better defender in a vacuum but he also occupies the center position which is by far the most important defensive role on the team. Thus having jokic means you forfeit the ability to play a defensively dominant center which limits the defensive ceiling of your team whereas Luka you can pair with a guy like Lively who is an elite athlete and on the way to becoming a top tier rim protector that can make up for a lot of Luka's shortcomings defensively.
I would still have Jokic over Luka overall but just wanted to address these 2 points.
Love the show and thought this format in particular has been great!
Joker does more than anyone else with less than anyone else
Jokic is the GOAT. Not MJ, not Lebron.
best player i’ve ever seen with my own two eyes
well well deserved
jokic is not a more versatile offensive player than luka is. it comes down to being a bad shooter in the playoffs. especially because jokic depends on a dunker when posting up. such a space killer. luka is way more versatile and every player on the court offers a mismatch he can punish everywhere on the court.
Yep. AD dominated Jokic to the tune of one victory to 4. Just stop with the nonsense.,
Do you think it’s the wrist with Jokic….or just 22 steph regular season type of season?
Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion but it's absolutely amazing how many of you in the comments are seemingly completely unable to recognize your own biases. There's mayyybe like .5% of you that can actually make a basketball case for your opinion. The rest of you just base everything on how you feel. This is Jason's list, and if you can't give a reasoned argument for why you disagree, as Jason has given pleeeenty reason for his list IF YOU ACTUALLY LISTEN, try to control your emotions and get over it.
👍
Joking is as important to me as NFL 😂
Suns in 5. Credibility lost
hey jason have you heard anything on the jamal murray contract dispute situation? it sounds like theres some bad blood forming with the front office not wanting to resign him for the number he wants
jason i feel bad for you with all the genuine idiots in your comment sections. also one thing ppl dont talk a lot about with jokic is he just doesnt feel nervous in big moments its like his heart rate never goes above 60 bpms(or whatever a cool calm and collected heart rate is)
Jokic is undoubtedly the best player in the world. He will.likely end his career the 2nd GOAT, behind Jordan
It’s weird how he barely even attempted midrange jump shots last season where in the past he was almost automatic from there.Fuking shame if that wrist injury is still bothering him.Been long time now
Here's a mailing question I'm really curious about you gave your top 25 and I am a Jokic fan so I agree with most of your list but of your top 25 which players can be put on any of the remaining 31 teams and get those teams to the Conference finals at least
Mailbag Q: Hey Jason, keep up the good work. Can you also do a series giving defenders some love. I’d love to see you break down the best defenders in the nba. Ideally best perimeter defenders and then best interior defenders or however best you think it’ll flow better.
I hate football 😢
I do like the nerd shesh guys, though 😊
With KCP gone, the defensive weaknesses of Jamal Murray is exposed a ton. I’m starting to have a ton of concerns with Jamal moving forward. The obvious first concern is the Nuggets need to go get a potentially toxic Russel Westbrook to help defensively at least in part because of JM’s defensive liabilities. Maybe RW can help redefine Jamal back to the two which may be interesting, but Westbrook’s lack of a jump shot does not open that up as much as it would otherwise. Second, Jamal’s presence can only be justified if he is producing offensively at a high level, and he must be showing up as big shot Jamal in the postseason. His shooting in the postseason was atrocious aside from those game winners. He was awful in the Olympics. I’m starting to worry about his production. Lastly, he looks like his body is breaking down. The postseason injuries and his limited play for Canada seemed to support this concern. There’s no doubt he is a great contributor, but I doubt we will ever see the things he did in the bubble again. In other words, with very little defensive upside, a struggling offensive game, and a broken body, is it time to consider moving on from Murray for the Nuggets?