2023-06-25 09:34:33
When the Denver Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers with revenge and advanced to the NBA championship, what Nikola Jokic felt was not the pleasure of finally elated after years of waiting and hard work, but the slightest dissatisfaction and restlessness. “Yes, we made history. But next year, no one will remember us unless we win it all, maybe it will be different,” Jokic said.
On the eve of the start of the 2023 NBA Championship, people are generally optimistic about the matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. In addition to the majestic high-altitude home court of the Nuggets, which is as indestructible as a steel fortress in the playoffs, there is also the Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, a key figure who can influence the entire game situation. Relying on a superb zone defense and a group of players whose destiny is to reverse their established destiny, the Heat know that this Serbian mountain will not be easily conquered in the playoffs.
While Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is full of praise for Jokic, he is always alert to deal with Jokic’s ability to connect the gold nuggets at any time.“He’s very unique. From his size, from his skill set, he doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses.”Spoelstra said.“He’s so unique and can impact games and wins.”
“You need a team of five to defend him.”Jimmy Butler, the best player in the Eastern Conference playoffs, echoed that.“He can do everything well, and we have to fill the gaps on the defense and go for the rebounds together.”
The Heat did try to cut off Jokic from his teammates, put him in a solo state, and even managed to break the Nuggets’ undefeated home playoff record in Game 2 of the championship game. However, Jokic in the championship game has already performed a gorgeous turnaround performance, and finally averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists, and won the championship MVP award.
In 2023, the 27-year-old Jokic completed his myth of dominance in the “one mile high city”. It is really at this moment that people really believe that Jokic is tied with the great stars in history-the 11th in NBA history Players who have won at least two regular season MVPs, a championship and a championship MVP.
“He’s one of the greatest players of all time and he’s only 28. He’s got such a long way to go.”Calvin Booth, director of gold nuggets, said.
For Jokic, all the things we are facing now, such as championships, honors, awards, etc., are not the starting point for the journey to greatness. The empire he overlooked has been slowly built since he met basketball many years ago.
When I was a child, people around me always had a few key words in their impression of Jokic: “fat man”, “tall”, “nerd”, etc. Almost none of them had anything to do with basketball. In fact, Jokic once said he couldn’t even do a single push-up in high school. However, under the eyes and ears of his two older brothers, Nemanja and Strahinja, Jokic kept hitting the toy basket hanging on the wall of the apartment and dealing with the two older brothers. After he was 16 years old, he left his hometown to join the A Serbian team called Mega Leks plays in a professional basketball league dominated by members of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Then, after three years in the professional league, Jokic won the MVP award and was ready to fly to even higher places.
The Nike Basketball Summit held in Portland in 2014 was the first time Jokic really performed in front of the NBA, especially most of the NBA’s general managers appeared at this basketball summit. It’s just that most people are not very active.“I think a lot of teams watched Jokic, but didn’t like him very much.”An anonymous NBA executive said so back then. No matter how hard he tries to move forward, Jokic still has to face labels or discrimination such as “too slow” and “not athletic”. In fact, only the Nugget has faith in Jokic. So the contempt of others is lucky for the gold nugget.
“By drafting him, we’re getting these affirmations that aren’t really fair.”Tim Connelly, then president of basketball operations for the Nuggets (now president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves), said so later.“We had two picks earlier! We could have drafted him earlier, we just waited until No. 41. Frankly, it’s all because of a lucky scouting deployment.”
Years later, Roy Rana, who coached Jokic at the Hoop Summit at the time, recalled this dusty gem.“With probably 500 people in the gym all week, I’d be surprised if anyone in the gym expected him to turn out like this.”Rana said.“It’s all due to Denver and their growth program and having a strong belief in him (Jokic). I really didn’t expect him to be an MVP-level player. I do think that as time goes forward, he will become a player.” Good NBA player, but even back then, that was debatable.”
At the Nike Basketball Summit at that time, Emmanuel Mudiay showed the “U.S. team” his explosive power in offensive and defensive transitions, while Justice Winslow, Kelly Oubre Jr and others on the other side let the “World Team” witness what is called a suffocating defense. In the whole game, Jokic only played about 15 minutes and scored 5 points and 7 rebounds. After the event, he returned to Serbia, but there is still nothing about the future.
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