Nikola Jokic is one of the few players who rarely comment on the history of the game and everything in between. You can hardly see the Joker talking in a podcast. The only time we can remember was when he joined his teammate Michael Porter Jr. on his podcast. In a new episode of Road to Gold, Nikola talks about fatherhood, his favorite activity horse racing, the All-Star weekend, and his favorite player.
Nikola Jokic Names His Favorite Player and Surprises Everyone
Almost every NBA player has a favorite player, an idol to say. And often, they overlap. Players like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, LeBron James, and Steph Curry, dominate the list of idols. But then comes Nikola Jokic, who names his favorite player, and you will be surprised by his pick. In the Road to Gold documentary, Nikola said,
“Growing up, Peja Stojakovic and [Vlade] Divac, they were in the NBA, and there, of course, you know, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Shaq and all those guys. Then Kobe, then LeBron, you know, there is always some kind of, but I am going to say, Tim Duncan, uh Dirk [Nowitzki], I Like Tracy McGrady, he was really good, I think he was a really talented player, he was really unique, basically unguardable.”
Not many players say Tracy McGrady was their favorite player growing up, but those who remember T-Mac from the 2000s can understand why. At one point, McGrady was among the top 5 best and most interesting players in the league. His battles with Kobe Bryant were legendary. Even Kobe himself has admitted T-Mac was among his toughest assignments.
How Good Was Prime T-Mac?
Prime McGrady was a 6-8 wing, who could play multiple positions, with a point-guard level handle and vision, balanced strong and weak hand, and drove to the rim like a guard. In his prime, he was one of the best players in the league. For a three-year peak, he dragged a terrible Magic team to the playoffs. He was uber-athletic, had a disgusting mid-range game, was unstoppable at the rim, and for a short period, he could hit the three-ball well. He had no weakness offensively. Sadly, injuries derailed his career.
Most fans remember T-Mac as the guy who scored 13 points in 33 seconds. We have to remember, that game came against a 2000s Spurs team known for its defense.
During the 2002-03 season, he led the league with 32.1 points per game on 45.7% shooting, including 38.6 from three-point range and he played 39.4 minutes per game.
Nikola Jokic Talks Russell Westbrook
In the same documentary, Nikola also talked about the chemistry he has with Russell Westbrook, a signing many viewed as a mistake in the summer. But somehow, Jokic and Russ have found a way to excel. Denver is on a nine-game winning streak, and they are third in the Western Conference. Speaking about Russ, Nikola said,
“It seems like it’s perfect right now and then uh, we kind of, I think he slowed down a little bit for me, and I kind of rushed myself just for because and we kind of find it in the perfect middle right now. It is working well right now for us.”
Russ might not have been Nikola Jokic’s favorite player, but it was the Joker who wanted him in Denver in the summer. While many viewed it as a mistake, the best player in the league right now had a different vision.
Photo credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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