“I Wouldn’t Draft Myself Either”: Nikola Jokic on Being Picked 7th by LeBron James From the All-Star Starters Pool

Akash Murty | 20/02/2023
"I Wouldn't Draft Myself Either": Nikola Jokic on Being Picked 7th by LeBron James From the All-Star Starters Pool

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo raised several eyebrows while drafting the players to represent their teams from the pool of 22 available players. Neither of them went for Nikola Jokic before they had chosen 6 other players.

One might think that the top MVP candidate in the 2023 race would be offended by it. However, the Joker hilariously went up to James and asked him to pick him up instead to save himself from being the last of the draft.

And after Team Giannis won the All-Star Game, the Serbian international spoke candidly about the wholesome pre-game exchange between him and the King.

Also read: “Nikola Jokic ‘Bullied’ LeBron James Into Picking Him”: Afraid Of Being Picked Last ‘Joker’ Made Sure He Was Taken Over Lauri Markkanen

Nikola Jokic says even wouldn’t pick himself for the All-Star game

We might never know a 2x MVP as humble as Nikola Jokic who did not just make the All-Star Draft fun, but also said after the game that even he would not pick himself first for an All-Star type game.

The man just means that the game is not that flashy for an All-Star game where there’s hardly any contest and both teams are just trying to have a fun game with every individual showing all of their best moves.

He didn’t look much interested in winning the game for team LeBron either. He just put up 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists while playing over 20 minutes which as per this season’s standard of his, was enough to get a triple-double.

Jokic is humble even for saying that. His passes are as magnificent as it gets and are good enough for any All-Star event in the history of the game.

Also read: “Joel Embiid Different, He African”: ‘All-Star Captain’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Trolls 7ft Sixers Star While Preparing for the Draft

Jokic is generational

Not trying to rhyme here. That man literally is Magic Johnson in Wilt Chamberlain’s stature. The 6ft 11’ center is so good at passing that the Nuggets, or any team that has him for that matter, would never need a playmaker.

His in-game passes in the regular season or even in the Playoffs will make you wonder if you’re watching a real game or an All-Star game. So, whatever he says, he belongs there.

Also read: “I Get Sad Getting Older!”: Nikola Jokic Discusses Being First Starter To Play in All-Star Game on His Birthday

Post Edited By: Akash Murty
2023 All-Star Game Giannis Antetokounmpo LeBron James Nikola Jokic

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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