Lakers News: Ex-Player Critiques Media For Underselling Nikola Jokic After LA Sweep

Was the world unprepared for the greatness of The Joker?

Longtime NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick, now a podcaster and ESPN commentator who's reportedly dipping a toe into the head coaching world, criticized the basketball media landscape at large (including his own network) for what he perceives to be a lack of coverage surrounding Denver Nuggets All-NBA center Nikola Jokic, even after his Nuggets vanquished your Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games during the Western Conference Finals.

"We don't do a good job of selling what the NBA is which is 30 teams, 450 players, multiple superstars. The fact that people are now being like, 'Oh, I didn't realize Nikola Jokic was good.' Let's put him on TV more! Let's talk about him!"

— JJ Redickpic.twitter.com/7eLHQ8GS9i

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2023

"This is just the way that we have sold the NBA. I don't love," Redick said. " After Game 1 of the Nuggets-Lakers series... I would say over half the conversation [on the ESPN shows in which he appeared after the game] was about the Lakers and what they did. Oh by the way, Nikola Jokic had his third straight triple-double that game and had 34 [points], 21 [rebounds] and 14 [assists]. How much did we talk about that? We don't do a good job of selling what the NBA is, which is 30 teams, 450 players, multiple superstars. The fact that people are now being like, 'Oh, I didn't realize Nikola Jokic was good' [is frustrating]. Let's put him on TV more! Let's talk about him more!"

Across 15 playoff games (Denver is 12-3 in those contests) thus far this year, the 27-year-old Jokic is averaging 29.9 points on .538/.474/.784 shooting splits, 13.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks a night.

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