“I Want To Be The Tim Duncan Of The Denver Nuggets”: Nikola Jokic’s Confession on Idolizing The Fundamental

Arjun Julka | 27/09/2022
"I Want To Be The Tim Duncan Of The Denver Nuggets": Nikola Jokic's Confession on Idolizing The Fundamental

Reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic expresses his desire to have a career like Spurs legend Tim Duncan, admitting the need to win championships.

While he is yet to receive the respect he deserves, one cannot deny Nikola Jokic being a top 5 player in the league right now. Coming off back-to-back MVP seasons, The Joker is a delight for any statistician, given the staggering numbers he’s been averaging.

Though he may not have the ideal NBA body type, Jokic does possess a skill set, ranking amongst the top 10 players in all-time triple-doubles. The Serbian native averaged 27.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 7.9 APG, shooting an impressive 58.3% from the field in the 2021-22 season.

There is no denying The Joker’s capabilities, but winning games when it matters most continues to be a matter of concern. The last two playoffs saw the Denver Nuggets face back-to-back first-round eliminations. Nonetheless, one cannot deny the absence of teammates Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. playing a role in this.

Also read: “Nikola Jokic is the modern-day Tim Duncan”: Former NBA coach George Karl oddly compares the current Nuggets superstar to the San Antonio legend

In the recently conducted media day, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic spoke about having a career similar to what Tim Duncan had with the Spurs.

Nikola Jokic’s aspirations to be the Tim Duncan for the Denver Nuggets.

In what many believe, Tim Duncan is a top-10 player of all time, playing his entire 19-seasons career for the Spurs, bringing the city of San Antonio 5-championships. The big man didn’t limit himself merely to the paint, having an efficient mid-range too.

Known for his apathetic demeanor on the hardwood, Timmy let his game do all the talking. A three-time Finals MVP, Duncan was the founding pillar of Gregg Popovich’s Spurs dynasty. Thus it’s no surprise why many of the league’s big men aspire to mirror his career, one of them being The Joker.

Nevertheless, The Joker is aware of needing to win a couple of championships to be like The Fundamental. While they may not have the same skill-set, both Jokic and Duncan have similar personality traits, which include leading an simple life away from the glitz and glamor and letting their game do the talking.

Also read: “Nikola Jokic is humble like Tim Duncan”: Nuggets superstar and MVP candidate gets some high praise from Mike Malone ahead of faceoff against Giannis and co

 

Post Edited By: Arjun Julka
Denver Nuggets NBA Media Day Nikola Jokic San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan

About the author

Arjun Julka

Arjun Julka is a NBA author at The SportsRush. Basketball isn’t just a sport for this 26-year-old, who hails from Mumbai. He began watching the sport after stumbling upon a court in his society, helping him identify an undiscovered passion for the game of hoops. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. When it comes to the GOAT debate, the TSR author feels LeBron James is yet to receive a lot of his due but cannot deny marveling at Michael Jordan’s resume.

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