The GREATEST NBA Draft Pick Of All Time: Nikola Jokic
There has never been a better NBA draft pick than Nikola Jokic going 41st in the 2014 NBA Draft… and his story to getting there is pretty unbelievable.
Jokers pre draft analysis was spot on. Big, slow, can't jump but skilled. Everyone just missed how skilled as well as how much of a basketball IQ this guy has.
Draymonds probably the 2nd or 3rd best 2nd rounder ever and the similarity between him and Jokic is it was hard to see just how good they could be as decision makers in the NBA
Isn't he isn't even playing the first year he drafted in because he still playing in Serbia? The guy that recommend him must be really close with the owner or something
Isaiah Thomas was pick 60 and in the MVP conversation for a short while. Probably not as good as Jokic, but still pretty damn good. Marc Gasol deserves some mention too.
What's not particularly close is the fact the joke has never been the best center, let alone the best player in the NBA. His awards are pure narrative.
Which team do you think will win period? Which team do you think will win in Jordan/Shaq's era and NBA rules? Which team do you think will win in KD/Jokic's era and NBA rules?Don't depend on numbers. Depend on your knowledge of the players, and team chemistry because of player capabilities.
The actual issue with joker n giannis… Is that the NBA is that a horrible job of marketing them prior to their elevation to MVP play. Even now we get a handful of national televised games from both. The small market excuse does not work also… LeBron did it in Cleveland.
I've watched every Denver game this season and I'm a big Jokic fan. However, Jokic is still a very poor rim protector and generally can't defend any player who can run and jump by him. He also can't close 3pt shooters because of his lack of speed. His main defensive weapon is swiping at passes and dribbles, and he does have some success with that.
the only guy coming to my mind with a similar story, not as crazy but also cool, would be IT. Not saying he's as great as Jokic but also a real one in a life time story 🙂
In terms of value and where he was picked, you're probably right. Most guys picked 41st are career backups or out of the league completely within a few years.
Some thing I’ll add I’ll never understand how people find him boring to watch. He is by far one of the most exciting players to watch because of his just unreal basketball, IQ and skill I’d much rather watch him make these crazy high IQ plays over big dunks or constant long range 3’s
I would argue he's not the goat draft pick to be honest, but more from a semantical standpoint. I can agree he's the most valuable ever and while that is a subjective statement, with the context surrounding Jokic it almost becomes objective. But the pick itself is a bit of a fluke pick like you explain yourself. To me the goat draft pick would be if someone is flying under the radar, but one team knows what's up and picks him outside of the lottery somewhere and he was maybe expected to drop even lower. And then he of course meets the expectations the team has set for him.
As for saying this won't happen again. I agree that scouts have become better so Jokic falling this low is crazy, but also him being European certainly played a big role (look at Doncic who should've easily been the #1 pick according to anyone who watched 1 minute of European basketball and is probably on of the biggest draft misses ever). So who knows maybe this can happen again with players from outside of the US or even Europe at this point, in the future.
I mean bol was a top 5 recruit a year later he went around 40. It's a draft after one year of play, it's a crab shoot. You seem forget about all the European role players. Horrible video and i am a Nuggets fan….
He was law at the draft because intelligence wasn't interesting thing for scouts if u don't have bunch of muscles… However Joker and Luka changed that.
Love Jokic, one of my favorite players, bt we can’t give him a third MVP. Most ppl don’t even regard him as the best in the game. Top 5 isn’t even guaranteed.
I agree with you. My only issue is you casually saying you can probably get another Giannis at 15…can we really get a other Giannis at 15? He is a guy who could potentially end his career at top 5 all time and you casually say you can get another one just to make your point of Jokic (which is a very valid point by the way) is just wrong.
This has to be the most misleading argument ever. Obviously, when talking about greatest players to ever get drafted, it’s between MJ and LeBron. But that’s not even what this argument is: it’s about who was the most valuable draft pick of all time.
True, i feel like they start chaging how they give out the mvp. MJ, bron, kobe, shaq, and others should've gotten more. Shaq lost another mvp because Nash was such an amazing player for the Sun's in which we can argue is a narrative based mvp.
I don't think Jokic should win the MVP, cuz Giannis just plays as good as Jokic and Luka but he plays elite defense. Also Giannis Team has the best Record (same as Nuggets) and Giannis is averaging 33, 12 and 5
I don’t think jokic shouldve won either of his last 2 MVP’s but the fact that he’s not being talked about for his 3rd when the argument on why he won the other 2 are the exact same is proof that this is a narrative based award. Imo they should just add more awards to give more clarity on the seasons most impactful players. 2-way Player of the year is a concept I can get behind and would be a better award to give the best player with the best season
45 Comments
Jokers pre draft analysis was spot on. Big, slow, can't jump but skilled. Everyone just missed how skilled as well as how much of a basketball IQ this guy has.
Draymonds probably the 2nd or 3rd best 2nd rounder ever and the similarity between him and Jokic is it was hard to see just how good they could be as decision makers in the NBA
Lol nah it's Gianni's still, joke has too big defensive weakness.
Isn't he isn't even playing the first year he drafted in because he still playing in Serbia?
The guy that recommend him must be really close with the owner or something
Their defense is far from fixed, and he absolutely hurts you on defense.
Isaiah Thomas was pick 60 and in the MVP conversation for a short while. Probably not as good as Jokic, but still pretty damn good. Marc Gasol deserves some mention too.
What's not particularly close is the fact the joke has never been the best center, let alone the best player in the NBA. His awards are pure narrative.
That's Bullshit your only saying that because he's white. He shouldn't be getting all these MVPs if he isn't winning nothing and he's on a good team.
He's not no goat 🤣🤣
Michael Jordan is STILL the greatest draft pick ever! Ask the Portland Trail Blazers 😏😏
Not even so sure Giannis is better, defensively for sure, but offensively Jokara is more versatile
Embid,
Jokic,
Luka,
KD,
Ky,
vs
Shaq,
Kareem,
Lebron,
Jordan,
Kobe
Which team do you think will win period? Which team do you think will win in Jordan/Shaq's era and NBA rules? Which team do you think will win in KD/Jokic's era and NBA rules?Don't depend on numbers. Depend on your knowledge of the players, and team chemistry because of player capabilities.
The actual issue with joker n giannis… Is that the NBA is that a horrible job of marketing them prior to their elevation to MVP play. Even now we get a handful of national televised games from both. The small market excuse does not work also… LeBron did it in Cleveland.
Jokic's basketball IQ was extremely underestimated 🙂
How? When he haven't won anything
If it can happen once, it can happen again.
I think manu Ginobili could be the greatest draft pick without jokic
Basketball is team sport and he is basketball player member of team, not selfish star
I've watched every Denver game this season and I'm a big Jokic fan. However, Jokic is still a very poor rim protector and generally can't defend any player who can run and jump by him. He also can't close 3pt shooters because of his lack of speed.
His main defensive weapon is swiping at passes and dribbles, and he does have some success with that.
you really have the best nba videos man. look forward to every upload and you never disappoint. thank you
the only guy coming to my mind with a similar story, not as crazy but also cool, would be IT. Not saying he's as great as Jokic but also a real one in a life time story 🙂
He's the best passing center in history and top 2 or 3 minimum offensively. But with that being said, can he win a title first?
In terms of value and where he was picked, you're probably right. Most guys picked 41st are career backups or out of the league completely within a few years.
He is so unique….. He already change the game for a center position
Some thing I’ll add I’ll never understand how people find him boring to watch. He is by far one of the most exciting players to watch because of his just unreal basketball, IQ and skill I’d much rather watch him make these crazy high IQ plays over big dunks or constant long range 3’s
manu ginobili is greatest draft pick
Manu Ginobili at 58 is kinda crazy. HoF 4 rings, gold medal. Underrated because of his role. Was great in multiple finals.
fanboying too hard
Hear me out. Tim Duncan. Takes pay cuts, plays at all star level, humble enough to let coach make decisions regardless of how it effects his game.
I would argue he's not the goat draft pick to be honest, but more from a semantical standpoint. I can agree he's the most valuable ever and while that is a subjective statement, with the context surrounding Jokic it almost becomes objective. But the pick itself is a bit of a fluke pick like you explain yourself. To me the goat draft pick would be if someone is flying under the radar, but one team knows what's up and picks him outside of the lottery somewhere and he was maybe expected to drop even lower. And then he of course meets the expectations the team has set for him.
As for saying this won't happen again. I agree that scouts have become better so Jokic falling this low is crazy, but also him being European certainly played a big role (look at Doncic who should've easily been the #1 pick according to anyone who watched 1 minute of European basketball and is probably on of the biggest draft misses ever). So who knows maybe this can happen again with players from outside of the US or even Europe at this point, in the future.
Not really a competition but prime Isaiah Thomas deserves some love. Literally the last pick of the draft yet was in MVP talks once.
I mean bol was a top 5 recruit a year later he went around 40. It's a draft after one year of play, it's a crab shoot.
You seem forget about all the European role players.
Horrible video and i am a Nuggets fan….
He was law at the draft because intelligence wasn't interesting thing for scouts if u don't have bunch of muscles… However Joker and Luka changed that.
Chill fam cuz he no Tim Duncan or MJ and them he needs some rings
This is easy. Greatest ever.
Love Jokic, one of my favorite players, bt we can’t give him a third MVP. Most ppl don’t even regard him as the best in the game. Top 5 isn’t even guaranteed.
I agree with you. My only issue is you casually saying you can probably get another Giannis at 15…can we really get a other Giannis at 15? He is a guy who could potentially end his career at top 5 all time and you casually say you can get another one just to make your point of Jokic (which is a very valid point by the way) is just wrong.
This has to be the most misleading argument ever. Obviously, when talking about greatest players to ever get drafted, it’s between MJ and LeBron. But that’s not even what this argument is: it’s about who was the most valuable draft pick of all time.
It's Manu
Why his teeth so yellow in the thumbnail 💀
True, i feel like they start chaging how they give out the mvp. MJ, bron, kobe, shaq, and others should've gotten more. Shaq lost another mvp because Nash was such an amazing player for the Sun's in which we can argue is a narrative based mvp.
I don't think Jokic should win the MVP, cuz Giannis just plays as good as Jokic and Luka but he plays elite defense. Also Giannis Team has the best Record (same as Nuggets) and Giannis is averaging 33, 12 and 5
I don’t think jokic shouldve won either of his last 2 MVP’s but the fact that he’s not being talked about for his 3rd when the argument on why he won the other 2 are the exact same is proof that this is a narrative based award. Imo they should just add more awards to give more clarity on the seasons most impactful players. 2-way Player of the year is a concept I can get behind and would be a better award to give the best player with the best season
Best draft pick ever. But shoutout to the undrafted shmucks that showed em better: Ben Wallace, Jeremy Lin, Fred VanVleet, JJ Barea, Seth Curry, etc.
Michael Jordan at 3 is low-key a steal.