Nuggets' Nikola Jokic put in 'best player in the history of the NBA' conversation by former NBA finalist coach
Nikola Jokic has been called many things during his rise with the Denver Nuggets: a unicorn, an offensive system unto himself, the best passing big man ever. Now, a former NBA Finals head coach has taken the praise a step further, openly placing the Serbian star in the “best player in the history of the NBA” conversation.
That kind of framing is reserved for sacred names in league lore. Typically, debates about the greatest ever orbit around Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and a short list of others who have combined elite production with championships and longevity. To hear a respected Finals-level coach suggest Jokic belongs in that discussion underscores how dramatically perceptions of the Nuggets center have evolved.
On the floor, the case is increasingly hard to ignore. Jokic blends size, skill, and decision-making in a way the league has never really seen. He scores efficiently from all three levels, orchestrates Denver’s offense like a point guard, and controls tempo with a calm that borders on casual. Every possession runs through him, yet his game rarely feels forced. The Nuggets’ entire identity is built around his unique versatility.
From a league-wide perspective, Jokic’s ascent has also reshaped how front offices think about roster construction. His success reinforces the value of high-IQ, playmaking bigs and has nudged the NBA further away from traditional, back-to-the-basket archetypes. Modern offenses are increasingly comfortable funneling creation through centers, a trend Jokic has both benefited from and accelerated.
Whether he ultimately earns consensus “greatest ever” status will hinge on the usual long-view criteria: sustained dominance, team success deep into multiple postseasons, and durability over a decade-plus. The history of the league is unforgiving, and the bar for that conversation is extraordinarily high.
Still, the fact that a former Finals coach is willing to publicly invoke Jokic’s name alongside the game’s ultimate legends says plenty. It suggests that, in real time, the NBA community is starting to treat the Nuggets’ star not just as an outlier talent of this era, but as a player whose peak might belong in the all-time tier.
That kind of framing is reserved for sacred names in league lore. Typically, debates about the greatest ever orbit around Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and a short list of others who have combined elite production with championships and longevity. To hear a respected Finals-level coach suggest Jokic belongs in that discussion underscores how dramatically perceptions of the Nuggets center have evolved.
On the floor, the case is increasingly hard to ignore. Jokic blends size, skill, and decision-making in a way the league has never really seen. He scores efficiently from all three levels, orchestrates Denver’s offense like a point guard, and controls tempo with a calm that borders on casual. Every possession runs through him, yet his game rarely feels forced. The Nuggets’ entire identity is built around his unique versatility.
From a league-wide perspective, Jokic’s ascent has also reshaped how front offices think about roster construction. His success reinforces the value of high-IQ, playmaking bigs and has nudged the NBA further away from traditional, back-to-the-basket archetypes. Modern offenses are increasingly comfortable funneling creation through centers, a trend Jokic has both benefited from and accelerated.
Whether he ultimately earns consensus “greatest ever” status will hinge on the usual long-view criteria: sustained dominance, team success deep into multiple postseasons, and durability over a decade-plus. The history of the league is unforgiving, and the bar for that conversation is extraordinarily high.
Still, the fact that a former Finals coach is willing to publicly invoke Jokic’s name alongside the game’s ultimate legends says plenty. It suggests that, in real time, the NBA community is starting to treat the Nuggets’ star not just as an outlier talent of this era, but as a player whose peak might belong in the all-time tier.
