By now, many have seemingly started to realize Nikola Jokic is the best active basketball player in the world. He’s a triple-double machine and the engine that drives the Denver Nuggets, winners of the NBA’s Western Conference.
But after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers and winning West MVP, Jokic wasn’t flying high riding his own accomplishments. In his interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters on stage, Jokic not only said winning West MVP means “nothing,” he was effusive in praise of his Nuggets teammates.
That’s because they support him and help make him look so good as a scorer, facilitator, and rebounder. He is truly, “first among equals.”
"They put me in this situation…I'm just first among the equals."
Nikola Jokic emphasizes the efforts of his @nuggets teammates as he's named Western Conference Finals MVP and presented with the Earvin 'Magic' Johnson Trophy! pic.twitter.com/JF7iq3obdk
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2023
Look, I get an athlete praising their teammates and coaches is standard fare when winning something great. But there’s something seemingly extra special about Jokic doing it, knowing his game is quite literally predicated on the success of his teammates. He is flat-out just a better player when he’s playing floor general and putting the other Nuggets in a position to thrive.
It’s the truth.
Jokic might be the only Nugget who actually possesses this all-around versatile capacity, but it doesn’t make his classiness after winning the West any less valid.