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Nikola Jokic Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Ex-Denver Nuggets Coach

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 4/22/24

It’s no secret Nikola Jokic is such a stellar player to watch whenever he steps on the court. But for former Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, the All-Star big man is shaping up to be a better player than Michael Jordan.

While Karl’s claims might seem ludicrous to most NBA fans, the Joker may have showed a compelling argument in Denver’s 114-103 win against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers . In that contest, Jokic posted 32 points on 65 percent shooting from the field, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Jamal Murray added 22 points and 10 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. made 19 points and eight rebounds for Mile High City.

The Lakers, on the other hand, had Anthony Davis lead the way by tallying 32 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. James notched 27 points and eight assists, while D’Angelo Russell had an off-night with only 13 points on 30 percent shooting from the field.

The win helped Denver gain an advantage over the Purple and Gold as the Jokic-led team is aiming to make it back to the Finals. The Lakers, however, may lose James in the offseason if they fail to go far in the playoffs this year.

Former Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl Claims Nikola Jokic is Better Than Michael Jordan

Years after he served the team, former Denver Nuggets head coach has shared a lot of his opinions on various players and issues in the league. The latest was when he posted his take on Jokic on his official X account:

“I’ve been around hoops for 50 years and I’ve seen a lot of incredible players, including Connie, Julius, Michael, Tim, Shaq, KAJ, Kobe and LBJ. But, at this point, I’m thinking Jokic may be the best player I’ve ever seen play basketball,” Karl tweeted.

Over the course of 79 games this season, Jokic has averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The two-time MVP is also shooting 58 percent from the field, 35 percent from three, and 81 percent from the free throw line.

Jokic effectively blends size, skill, and high basketball intellect into a complete package for the Nuggets. And from Karl’s perspective, the Joker has taken a lot of elements from the players he mentioned to hone his craft, leading the way to his bold claim.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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