Championship Coach Shares Incredible Statement About Nikola Jokic
Doc Rivers has experienced Nikola Jokic in a way that very few people have. Jokic had his coming out party against Doc Rivers and the Clippers during the 2020 bubble, and that's what made Rivers realize just what the two-time MVP was capable of.
In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Doc Rivers told a fantastic story about playing against Jokic and also the respect he had for him.
Years ago, Rivers faced off against Jokic in the 2020 bubble. At the time, people knew Jokic was good, but he wasn't quite MVP-good yet. As the Clippers started blowing a 3-1 lead against the Nuggets, Rivers and the world started realizing just how good Jokic was.
"I made a comment like three or four years ago, at the time, his body didn't look as good as it was now," Rivers said. "I was like, 'this big, overweight bartender is destroying us. He's destroying us.'"
Even though Rivers was shocked at Jokic's appearance, what shocked him even more was how beautiful the Serbian's game was. Rivers started falling in love with every single offensive aspect of Nikola Jokic's game.
"That's how he looked, but then you watch him play and it's absolutely beautiful," Rivers said. "In almost everything he does, his passing, his shots. His shot-making ability doesn't get enough play. Obviously, he can make the three and he has great post moves, but his unorthodox little flip shots in traffic, through contact, and we're talking all that, and then you forget about the best part of his game - his passing."
As the interview progressed, Doc Rivers gave the ultimate compliment to Nikola Jokic. He compared to the ultimate floor raiser, Magic Johnson.
"He's one of those guys, Magic Johnson type, that he makes his whole team better, immediately," Rivers said. "Everybody that plays on the floor. I would be scared if I was a GM to sign a player from the Denver Nuggets because he makes them that much better."
It took a few years, but Nikola Jokic is absolutely undeniable to the NBA world. He's only 28 years old and has enough time to cement himself as one of the greatest of all time.
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