Lakers News: LeBron James Praises Nikola Jokic After Western Conference Finals Defeat
The general stigma around the Los Angeles Lakers' 2023 playoff defeat to the Denver Nuggets has been filled with nothing but pride and holding their head high. They are well-aware that they battled all the way to the end and that they were a couple of missed shots away from the series looking very different right now.
Nonetheless, the focus in their game four postgame media sessions and exit interviews has been just how good of a squad the Denver Nuggets are. LeBron James went as far as to say that they were the most talented team that he and Anthony Davis ever faced during their time with the purple and gold.
And Nikola Jokic was at the helm of it all. He averaged a triple-double in the WCF against LA with about 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists en route to four straight wins. Lakers fans were also certainly in shambles with some off-balance shots that he hit.
The Joker won back-to-back MVP's in 2021 and 2022 and was in the running for a third straight award this season but it seemed as though voters wanted to see more postseason success from him before any more shine on that end.
Well, he has paid attention to the critics and after taking down a young Timberwolves team, a star-studded Suns squad, and now the Lakers, he is well on his way there.
And LeBron James had nothing but praise for him after the WCF wrapped up. He's faced so many legendary opponents during his 20-year career and revealed that Jokic is one of one.
"Everybody gets caught up in the stats but I don't think a lot of people about this (points to his head) part of his game," said James. "It's not talked about, because a lot of people don't understand it, but I do. He's special."
(Via Clutch Points)
Special is definitely one way to put it. Jokic is four wins away from his first NBA championship and his legacy could be lifted even more.
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