Nikola Jokic won his second consecutive NBA MVP award on Monday. The Nuggets star enjoyed a terrific 2021-2022 campaign that saw him average 27/14/8. He led Denver against all odds to the postseason while keeping the Nuggets out of the play-in tournament despite season long injuries to stars like Jamaal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. At 27 years old, it is clear that Nikola Jokic is an NBA superstar.
However, is calling him an NBA great center this early in his career going too far?
Here are 2 reasons Nikola Jokic's back-to-back MVPs cement his legacy as one of the best centers of all-time.
2 Reasons Nikola Jokic just Cemented His Legacy
Jokic's Accomplishments Speak for Themselves
At first glance, you might believe it is crazy to call Jokic an all-time great at the center position already. But if you compare Jokic to those before him, it isn't as wild as you think.
Jokic is already a 2-time MVP, 4-time All-Star, and 2-time All-NBA First Team representative. Obviously, the championships are lacking behind some of the best to ever play the position. But from a purely individualistic perspective, Jokic is up amongst some of the best of all-time.
Obviously Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Will Chamberlain, and Bill Russell are well ahead of Jokic. They each won at least five MVPs and multiple championships during their legendary careers. However, Shaquille O'Neal is where the comparisons become more interesting.
I want to make it abundantly clear that in no way am I claiming Jokic is better than Shaq at just 27-years of age. I'm not looking to get dissed on NBA on TNT just yet.
But Jokic does now have more MVP's than Shaq, as O'Neal won just a single MVP award during his career. Jokic, in an era dominated by guards, has 2. But Shaq won 3 Finals MVPs and has 4 rings.
Jokic now has more MVPs than Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, George Mikan, and Bill Walton. Those are all Hall of Fame players who are considered some of the best centers to ever play the position. But one could easily argue that Jokic has already accomplished more from an individual perspective than Walton and he isn't far behind Mikan and Ewing.
Nikola Jokic should already be in the top centers of all-time conversation. He still has a long ways to go, but he is doing incredible things in Denver. If he can win a couple of championships down the road that would elevate him on the list.
A Different Era
Almost every other great center we just mentioned played in an era where big men dominated the competition. But Nikola Jokic is playing during an era where guards and star-studded backcourts run the league. Guys like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook impact the game from the point guard position. They aren't looking to pass like John Stockton, rather, they are looking to hit the three-ball, finish at the rim, or draw a foul and go to the line.
And those are just the point guards. Shooting guards and small forwards play a huge role from an offensive standpoint as well.
All of this tends to leave big men fighting and clawing for points on put backs from missed shots. However, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are making centers great again.
Centers are adapting. They are more than just bruisers who score in the post. Centers can now distribute the ball to teammates, dribble with confidence, and hit shots from all over the court. Part of what makes Jokic so impressive is his ability to pass and dish out assists while scoring in a myriad of different ways.
He, along with Joel Embiid, is redefining the center position to keep up with the times. And Jokic now has two MVPs because of his play style.
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