There’s just something about watching Nikola Jokic go to work that makes you pause and rethink what you’re seeing. Night after night, the big man for the Denver Nuggets does things that don’t quite fit the traditional mold no flashy theatrics, no over-the-top celebrations, just pure, methodical dominance.
And when he put on another clinic against the Golden State Warriors, it didn’t just light up the box score it sparked a bigger conversation. Because when someone like Shannon Sharpe starts weighing in on where Jokic belongs among the all-time greats in the NBA, you know the debate is about to get interesting.
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15)Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
(Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Following Golden State Warriors win against the Nuggets led by Jokic, Shannon Sharpe posed an interested question for fans and pundits. He said, “Are we sure once Jokic career is over? We’ll be able 2 name 10 better players than him? He’s well on his way 2 a 40-20 trip dub.”
If you only glanced at the box score, you’d think the Denver Nuggets walked away with this one comfortably. Nikola Jokic was everywhere pouring in 35 points, pulling down 20 rebounds and handing out 12 assists while sprinkling in steals and blocks for good measure. It was his 21st triple-double of the year, and for stretches, he completely controlled the tempo of the game.
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But basketball isn’t played on paper. Despite Jokic’s brilliance, the Golden State Warriors flipped the script late. After Denver seized momentum in the third quarter, Golden State stormed back with a barrage of threes and a burst of energy in the final minutes.
Costly turnovers and shaky execution down the stretch only made things worse for the Nuggets, who once again struggled to close. For a team with title ambitions, letting games like this slip away is becoming an uncomfortable pattern.
Related: Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic Reacts to NBA Narrative About His Attitude
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.