Former NBA Champion Picks Nikola Jokic Over Shaquille O’Neal for One Key Reason

Former NBA champion Jeff Teague on the “520 in the Morning” podcast picked Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic over Shaquille O’Neal for one key reason. Teague asserted that Jokic’s dominance started in the 2000s when O’Neal was at the tail end of his career.

“Jokic was better than him from 2000 up,” Teague said.

Jokic, a three-time MVP, is considered one of the greatest players and centers of all time. While it is hard to argue who was a better player, Teague once argued that a prime Shaquille O’Neal would destroy the Nuggets star if they faced off. He asserted that the matchup isn’t really close, where he emphasized Shaq’s physical dominance. However, he added that Jokic’s skill set, especially offensively, could give Shaq serious trouble.

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Other analysts like Chris “Mad Dog” Russo asserted that Nikola Jokic could be the greatest center ever. He explicitly said that “he’s better than Shaq” and even beyond other legends like Mike Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Former player Gilbert Arenas argued that Jokic’s ability to generate massive scoring (points and assists) for his team is extremely rare. He added that his influence on games is comparable to or even exceeds the dominant scoring Shaq displayed in his prime.

Jokic was drafted in the second round and has grown to become one of the best players. He led the Nuggets to their first championship in 2023 and has been in the MVP conversation for the past five years. This season, he is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game.

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Nikola Jokic ruled out for a few weeks due to a knee injury

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will be relieved by the latest injury report. According to the Nuggets on Tuesday, the Nuggets star will miss a few weeks due to a hyperextended left knee and will be evaluated after four weeks.

The injury occurred during Monday’s away defeat against the Miami Heat. Teammate Spencer Jones stepped on his foot during a defensive play, causing his left knee to hyperextend and making him limp off the court. He exited the court and did not return for the second half and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The Nuggets lost 147-123 and recorded 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists.

Edited by Ubong Richard