“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

Coach Mike Malone thinks that Nikola Jokic is humble and dominant a lot like Tim Duncan was. The Nuggets superstar is an All-Star starter this year.

Nikola Jokic has been on a tear this season, playing arguably the best basketball of his career. There has been a lot of clamoring for him to be included in the conversation for this season’s MVP.

If the Nuggets were able to snag a top 3 seed, he would definitely be in the thick of it all. As things stand, the Joker has been averaging 27.1 points, 11 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this season. He’s also shooting 56% from the field and 41.1% on 3-pointers while attempting a career-high 3.8 3s.

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Jokic gave another stupendous exhibition Monday night against the Bulls, going 17-of-28 from the field for 38 points. He fell just one assist shy of a triple-double, tallying 14 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals.

On a night when Denver’s role players weren’t all that effective, they needed everything they could get from Jokic. This has been a recurring theme this season, as his teammates have struggled to find consistency. Nevertheless, the Nuggets have been trending up again on the back of his performances.

Mike Malone praises Nikola Jokic for his level-headed demeanor, reminiscent of Tim Duncan

After their win last night, Malone was full of praise for yet another carry job by his superstar. While acknowledging his performance, Mike also said that his humility reminds him of one Tim Duncan:

“I’m not saying he’s Tim Duncan,” Malone said. “Tim Duncan is arguably the greatest power forward to ever play the game. All I’m saying is that Tim Duncan was a world champion, and he was probably the most humble guy that you ever saw.

“Nikola carries himself in the same light.”

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Malone also added that Jokic deserves more consideration as a real franchise star:

“I see all these conversations about ‘Who would you want to start a franchise with?’ I never see Nikola’s name mentioned. And I’m dumbfounded by that. My nominee, I got a write-in nominee, ‘Nikola Jokic is a guy that I’d like to build a franchise with.’”