Nikola Jokic’s extraordinary mental approach to basketball has cemented his status as the game’s most intellectually gifted player, according to peers, coaches, and opponents who continue to marvel at his ability to anticipate and dictate play on both ends of the floor.
“I’ve never met anybody more curious than him. And I think it’s kept him ahead of the curve,” Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman told Michael Pina of The Ringer. “He sees it coming, man. He always has.”
The three-time MVP, who averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game this season, has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled ability to read opposing defenses and call out plays before they happen, often leaving opponents stunned by his basketball prescience.
Mike Conley recalled a moment that exemplified Jokic’s cognitive ability:
“He was calling out our play when we’re in mid-play, and we’re like, bro, we can’t run our play because he’s telling everybody, putting people in positions where we can’t run our play,” said Conley.
Jokic’s photographic memory extends to recognizing plays from years past. According to Adelman, during a walk-through before facing Golden State this season, Jokic identified a set Warriors assistant Terry Stotts was running that originated from Stotts’ tenure with Portland during a 2019 playoff series against Denver.
With the Nuggets navigating organizational upheaval following the recent dismissal of both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, Jokic’s basketball intellect may prove crucial as Denver attempts to defend its championship in a loaded Western Conference playoff field.
“His IQ and persona brings a certain toughness to us,” Adelman explained. “I think there is a comfortability in the locker room that we got the smartest guy in the league. He’s not cocky, but he sure as hell knows that he’s the smartest guy in the room.”
Steve Kerr recently called Jokic “the greatest center he’s ever seen,” adding: “It goes so far beyond the skill level with Jokic. It’s the demeanor, it’s the competitiveness, it’s the intelligence. He is absolutely one of the smartest players ever.”
Nuggets guard Christian Braun put it even more directly: “He watches a lot of basketball. People don’t realize that. He’ll text me about games that are on at night. He’s just, I mean, probably the smartest player that’s ever played.”