Nikola Jokic could be the most unsuspecting superstar in the NBA. He is a 41st overall pick, not athletic, and does not jump high. Those must be the reasons why he landed with the Denver Nuggets.
He has an average rookie year, too. So when did he start evolving into an unstoppable superstar that he is now? His former teammate Danilo Gallinari has an an idea.
The Italian forward, who played a total of 16 seasons in NBA, said had no idea that Jokic will become the best player in the world. That was in 2015 during his first season.
Things changed during the second season.
“I didn’t think he was gonna be the best player in the world. Towards the end of the second season, he started throwing a couple of triple doubles in there. In the last couple of months, he had like 3 or 4 triple doubles. That was, I’m like ‘Okay!’,” Gallinari said during an appearance at the White Noise podcast with Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.
“It’s pretty cool. And then okay, now you did it, I’m sorry for you but you gotta do it every night now. And I think he really followed what I told him to do. Triple-double now for him is like a coffee for us in the morning.”
Nikola Jokic since then never looked back
More than just a triple double machine, Jokic is now among the best players to ever play the game. Jokic is now a three-time MVP and a one-time champion after lording everyone in 2023 when they beat the Celtics.
He has been named to the NBA First Team five times and is an All-Star for eight straight seasons.
He could surpass Russell Westbrook for most triple doubles in league history as he currently has 180 while his former teammate got 207. Although for now, that can wait as he is still nursing a knee injury and won’t be back until February.
For now, media still love him and still has a chance to win a fourth MVP. He is currently second in the Kia MVP Ladder behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC Thunder although he might be removed soon in the Top 3 due to the 65-game rule.
He’s on the clock, though, with his recovery from a hyperextended knee. Jokić was originally projected to be re-examined next week. We’ll see if he’s still on schedule for a potential return in February, if not before, and whether he’ll be 65-game eligible for MVP consideration.
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