Nikola Jokic has never been a flashy player.
In fact, the Denver Nuggets superstar landed in the league being considered the fourth or fifth scoring option on any team.
The Serbian big man little by little improved his play and right now is arguably the best player in the world.
Back in 2016, Jokic wrote a piece for The Player’s Tribune where he detailed how he followed the NBA in his native country, revealing that he used to watch three legends that helped model his game.
“Growing up, I watch the national teams, because when you’re a kid in Serbia, that’s your goal. I didn’t follow that much NBA, because in Serbia, the games are on at 3 and 4 a.m. When YouTube came out when I was like 15, I watched Magic because of his passing, and Hakeem because of his post moves, and Jordan because he is Jordan.”
It’s fair to say that Jokic learned a lot from them, as he can do a lot on the court, especially on the offensive end of the ball.
The Joker is a great passer, but he also scores with ease and his rebounding skills are terrific.
Those times watching Magic Johnson really helped him, as well as learning from Michael Jordan, one of the best scorers in the history of the game.
Hakeem made a big impact on him too, as he has solid footwork that helps him in the post.
Jokic is now a two-time NBA MVP, one-time Western Conference Finals MVP, and is three games away from winning the NBA championship.
The 2014 NBA Draft’s No. 41 overall pick didn’t have the easiest journey to the league, but now he’s one of the faces of the league.
Jokic is an inspiration for many players around the world, and just like these three legends taught him, he’s surely inspiring and teaching many kids.
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