Former teammate, reigning champ heaps praise on Jokić

DENVER (KDVR) — As someone who has seen Nikola Jokić work behind the scenes, and also faced him as an opponent, former Denver Nuggets teammate and reigning NBA champion Isaiah Hartenstein heaped praise on Denver’s superstar center, describing him as one of the hardest match-ups in the entire NBA.

Hartenstein made an appearance on former NBA player Gilbert Arenas’ podcast “Gil’s Arena,” and when asked who is the hardest player to guard in the NBA, named Jokić and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

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“It’s probably between Joel and Jokic, but they’re kind of different in those aspects,” Hartenstein said on the podcast. “Joel is more into straight ones, and Jokić, you can’t really play team defense on him because he can pass so well. It’s two different guys, but at the end of the day, those are probably the two hardest I’ve had to guard.”

Embiid and Jokić have both been named MVP, yet they approach the game in different ways.

Embiid is one of the best scorers in the league, backed by his two scoring titles. He can shoot it from deep, has the handles and footwork of a driving guard and also has a feathery touch around the rim, all despite standing seven feet tall.

Jokić sees the game in a completely different fashion.

He has completely surpassed the conversation as the best passing big man in NBA history and finds himself in debates about being the best passer ever, regardless of position. Jokić will always be known for his superhuman passing vision, but as he showed this last season, he can get buckets at will, finishing as a top-three scorer.

Hartenstein, who is seemingly on a podcast tour after winning the NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder, popped in on 76ers star Paul George’s podcast “Podcast P” and stated how the Jokić-led Nuggets were the biggest threat to their title chances this postseason.

“I think the only series where we were kind of a little bit on the ropes was Denver. I think Denver was the only series where I mean that, just Jokić. I mean, the way they play, they’ve been there before, and that was probably the only series where we were like, even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance,” said Hartenstein.

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Hartenstein is on top of the basketball world, playing a pivotal role for the Thunder during the championship run, but credits part of his success and development to the time he spent with Jokić on the Nuggets.

“Just like little details, where I was a good passer, but it kind of took me to another level where I see the game differently, and I know how to manipulate the game to — in kind of my benefit in that aspect. But he’s so smart in the game. I mean, his IQ is off the charts,” said Hartenstein. “Even playing against him in the playoffs, it felt like he was coaching — like he’s the coach on the court. I mean, he’ll tell people where to go. He’ll tell what kind of players what to do.”

With the Nuggets revamping this offseason and the Thunder heavily favored to defend their title, the two centers might be seeing more of each other during next year’s playoffs.

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Former teammate, reigning champ heaps praise on Jokić

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