With just eight games remaining in the 2023-24 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets are beginning to round into form ahead of the playoffs.
Although the defending champions are sitting in the third seed in the Western Conference, the Nuggets are still considered to be the favorites to repeat.
Denver has gotten excellent contributions across the roster, though it’s been Nikola Jokic who has anchored the team throughout the year.
Jokic is well on his way to capturing his third NBA MVP award as he’s currently averaging 26.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 8.9 assists on nearly 58 percent shooting from the field.
The Serbian big man has been nearly unstoppable this season, either scoring on smaller defenders or dishing out to his teammates for open looks.
While Jokic is widely considered to be the best basketball player in today’s game, former NBA players like Toni Kukoc believe some of his contemporaries are better than the Nuggets superstar via Eurohoops.
“Despite the statistics, Jokic isn’t at the level of [Vlade] Divac and Dino [Radja] in the center position,” Kukoc said.
“Despite the statistics, Jokic isn’t at the level of [Vlade] Divac and Dino [Radja] in the center position”
– Toni Kukoc on Nikola Jokic
(Via @Eurohoopsnet / SPORSKI ZURNAL) pic.twitter.com/TRUoDWBDdh
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 30, 2024
This seems to be another case of older NBA players taking jabs at the current generation.
Kukoc’s claim seems to be rooted in bias as there’s no way that anyone who’s watched Jokic can compare him to players like Valde Divac or Dino Radja.
Divac and Radja had impressive basketball careers during their prime, but neither of them came close to Jokic’s level.
If Denver and Jokic are able to win another title this season, then Kukoc should seriously reconsidering retracting his statement.
NEXT:
Nikola Jokic Shares Details About His Wrist Injury
