Inside The Nuggets

Hall of Fame Center Makes Very Bold Nikola Jokic Statement

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is already an all-time great.

Joey Linn

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. / Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is already one of the greatest players in NBA history. A three-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP, Jokic is amid an incredible run in Denver.

Still adding to his legacy, Jokic looks to have several more seasons of dominant basketball in him. That said, the Nuggets star already ranks near the very top of some exclusive lists.

During a recent interview with Index (translated to English via HoopsHype), Hall of Fame center Vlade Divac claimed Jokic is ready the greatest European basketball player of all-time.

“The numbers say so,” Divac said. “The results confirm it. And the essence of sports is results. Based on that, I think there’s no room for doubt.”

This is a very bold claim from Divac when considering the European talent basketball has seen, but the former Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers star is not wrong about many numbers supporting Jokic’s case.

Still just 29 years old, Jokic will continue to reach even greater heights in the NBA. While some may push back against Divac’s belief that Jokic is already the greatest European player ever, he is certainly in that discussion.

Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) with the KIA NBA MVP trophy at Ball Arena. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

This season will be a big one for Jokic and the Nuggets, as the NBA’s Western Conference has continued to improve since Denver's championship in 2023.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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