Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have reached a spot nobody thought they belonged to— the 2023 NBA Finals. After sweeping LeBron James’s Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the 2x MVP is just one step away from winning the biggest reward. And after Magic Johnson, finished grieving the Lakers’ loss in Game 4, decided to compliment the Joker in a big way. The former Lakers MVP announced Jokic had changed the game and deserved to be put in the same category as Stephen Curry, Shaquille O’Neal, and even Michael Jordan.
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The 6ft 11’ center led the Nuggets to their first-ever #1 finish in the Western Conference, averaging 24.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game in the regular season.
Not stopping there, Jokic upped the ante in the post-season, putting up 30.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 10.6 assists a game in 17 games played thus far. And after winning the Western Conference, he won the ‘Earvin Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP’. An achievement that called for Johnson to congratulate the man, himself.
“Congratulations to Nikola Jokic for being named the Earvin Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP and averaging 27 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 11.3 assists for the series!”
Magic did not stop there with his praise for Nikola.
Magic Johnson says Nikola Jokic is changing the game
Giannis Antetokounmpo inspiringly led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship in 2021. And now in 2023, Nikola Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA Finals. Additionally, the last 5 NBA MVPs have all been big men. Simply put, the era of the big man has begun all over again.
However, Jokic is not your typical big man who dominates the opposition with his sheer size and agility. Rather he is doing quite the opposite, using skill and finesse to be the best player on the floor. And still, he has been playing the game like we haven’t seen someone do in a long time, a big reason behind why Magic Johnson thinks he is changing the game.
“The Joker is changing the game of basketball right before our very eyes much like Michael (Jordan), Larry (Bird), LeBron (James), Steph (Curry), Kobe (Bryant), Kareem (Abdul Jabbar), and Shaq(uille O’Neal),” Tweeted Johnson.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird changed the NBA, by making it popular among the masses. In fact, it’d even be fair to say that the NBA may not have been around today if it weren’t for them.
Picking up where they left off, Michael Jordan changed the league forever by proving that a guard can be the face of the NBA. Further, he led a franchise to its dynasty era. Meanwhile, the 7ft 1’ juggernaut, Shaquille O’Neal, literally forced the NBA to bring in some rule changes.
Kobe Bryant was the second coming of Jordan who defined competitiveness and work ethic like no other and the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James proved that dominance could be prolonged for over two decades while still playing at an elite level.
Stephen Curry changed the game completely with the 3-point revolution. And now Jokic is doing that by being the league’s biggest threat, both in the paint and the perimeter, who is too difficult to deal with for players of any size because of his elite play-making. In far too many ways, Jokic is a player that only appears once in a generation.
Jokic has to put a stamp on it by winning a championship
After defeating the team with the best odds in the West in the 2nd round, and the favorites of the Conference in the next, Jokic must not surrender against the team that comes through the East.
It’ll be the saddest ending for one of the greatest post-season efforts by an NBA player. If the Heat make it to the Finals, the Nuggets might find it easier to win it all than they might against the Celtics.
Boston has the better post-presence, which may stop Jokic in the paint. Further, Marcus Smart could deal with Jamal Murray. But then again, neither Anthony Davis nor any other player who the Lakers threw at The Joker or Jamal worked at all.
Admittedly things could go either way here, no matter who comes out of the East. However, one thing is for sure. This is the best opportunity the Nuggets have ever had to win an NBA championship, something Nikola Jokic and his crew just cand’t waste.
