The role of an NBA center has evolved through the years. Back in the 1980s and ’90s, men in the middle were tasked with scoring from the post, rebounding, defending the rim and setting screens for their teammates. And while today’s NBA center still has to assume those responsibilities, they now enjoy more freedom than ever before.
They can go beyond the arc and pepper defenses with three-pointers. In addition, they can also operate from the keyhole, directing the offense from that key area of the court. Some even grab the rebound and lead a team’s transition attack.
However, no big man in the league does these things better than the Denver Nuggets’ superstar, Nikola Jokic. A massive 6’11” individual who’s light on his feet yet forceful in the shaded lane, the Joker has proven capable of handling the rock and orchestrating the team’s offense with precision, things that took then head coach Mike Malone by surprise.
Jokic didn’t look the part of a future NBA superstar
There’s nothing conventional about Jokic’s journey to basketball superstardom. While many young American basketball prodigies, with their advanced skills and sculpted physiques, seem destined for the NBA from an early age, Nikola’s path from his hometown of Sombor, Serbia, to the Nuggets was far from certain.
In fact, Jokic’s first head coach in the big leagues wasn’t even aware he could handle the rock until he demonstrated that skill during a drill in practice. As Malone expressed his bewilderment at the Joker’s passing abilities, the big man responded in his usual deadpan manner, saying, “Coach, you didn’t know I was a short, fat point guard growing up?”
From that point on, Jokic has served as the Nuggets’ informal court general. And so far, he has flourished in that role, averaging a career-high 10.2 assists per game last season, a figure second only to assist champion Trae Young, who averaged 11.6, and better than the ones Tyrese Haliburton, Cade Cunningham and James Harden posted.
“He talks about being a point guard trapped in a young man’s body,” Malone commented. “You look at the pictures and he was right; he was a fat little point guard. But his handle and feel for handling the ball in the open court is a big part of it.”
A passing savant
The NBA has seen numerous big men showcase impressive passing skills. Arvydas Sabonis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Garnett are players who routinely didn’t hesitate to make plays for others, especially when the defense collapsed on them. However, Malone, who steered the Nuggets to the title in 2023, said Jokic is in a league of his own.
“He’s like a Magic, like a LeBron,” Malone remarked. “He has that ability in the open court to make his teammates better and make the right play nine times out of 10.”
Malone further noted that Jokic’s penchant for getting his teammates involved has a lot to do with his modesty and lack of ego, which he said is a breath of fresh air in a league populated by players who want to get theirs first before others do.
“The thing that I’ve always really enjoyed with Nikola is the lack of ego. We all have an ego. Nikola’s so down to earth, so minimal of an ego,” he said. “I think when guys come here from the outside, they all know it’s Nikola’s team, but they’re amazed at how he’s also one of the guys.”
Now 30 years old, Jokic is far removed from his days as a “short, fat point guard.” His body type will never be mistaken for LeBron James’, but Nikola’s point guard mentality will always make him stand out in the league, a rarity for a man of his size.