Nikola Jokic, the Serbian maestro who has dazzled basketball fans worldwide with his unique skill set and unrivaled court vision, recently etched his name in the annals of NBA history. Not only did Jokic secure his first-ever championship ring, but he also captured the coveted Finals MVP award, solidifying his place among the game’s elite. As the dust settles on the exhilarating 2023 NBA season, a burning question emerges: where does Nikola Jokic rank among the greatest centers of all time? With his extraordinary playmaking abilities, unparalleled versatility, and now a championship to his name, many basketball enthusiasts ponder whether Jokic has already earned a spot in the illustrious top five centers of all time. In this article, we delve into the remarkable journey of Nikola Jokic and examine his standing in the pantheon of legendary NBA centers.
Is Nikola Jokic already a top 5 center of all time?
People might get caught up in the moment and would say that Nikola Jokic is already in the top 5 list of best centers in NBA history. However, that seems kind of an overstatement. Indeed, Jokic has been doing unimaginable things even at the age of 28. But, if we look at the history books, there are a lot of centers that have dominated in the past and are arguably still better than Nikola Jokic. Let’s take a look at these top five NBA legendary centers (in no particular order).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The 2nd leading scorer of all time often times gets the nod in the GOAT conversation. Kareem, formerly known as Lew Alcindor, had a very successful 21 seasons in the NBA. His towering height and unstoppable sky hook made him a very lethal scorer in the ’70s to ’80s.
Throughout his career, Kareem won six regular season MVPs and six championships. Not only that, but he has tons of accolades in his name which is incomparable to other basketball icons. When Kareem retired in 1989, he was the NBA’s leading all-time scorer which was then broken by LeBron James 34 years later.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt the Stilt was not only famous for “allegedly” bedding 20,000 women, but he also became known worldwide because of his out-of-this-world basketball talents. In his prime, Chamberlain could easily get 50 points and 25 rebounds a night.
Of course, we all remember when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. To this day, some of his records (including the 100-point game) are yet to be broken. We never really got to see how dominant Wilt was. Back then, blocks weren’t recorded yet but it was reported that he averaged almost 9 blocks per game, a feat only he and Bill Russell share.
Bill Russell
The late great Bill Russell had the most rings among all of the NBA players throughout the 75-year history of the league. His era may not be as competitive as it is now and players aren’t the best version of ballers yet, but considering how he repeatedly beat Chamberlain speaks a lot of volumes.
Looking at old videos and highlights of Bill Russell, one could see that he was a generational talent, a freak of nature if we must say. He isn’t the biggest guy on the court, but he surely is the most dominant presence. Along with his 11 championships, Russell also achieved five (5) regular season MVPs, sometimes winning it over Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Oscar Robertson.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq is arguably the most dominant player we have ever seen. Just look at his videos and you would understand why. Every time Shaq is in the post, he just easily moves whoever guards him like a ragdoll. The Diesel was such an unstoppable force that rules changed because of him and opposing time tried everything to slow him down (i.e. hack-a-shaq).
O’Neal was already seen as the next superstar after being drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992. In his rookie season, Shaq immediately showed up and put fear in the hearts of other big men in the East. He had a great career but could have been better if he stayed in shape until the end of his playing time. Shaquille O’Neal won only one MVP in 19 seasons. He also won 4 championships, three of which were with the Lakers and the other one was with the Miami Heat.
Hakeem Olajuwon
2-time champion, 2-time Finals MVP, 1-time regular season MVP, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, and 9-time All-Defensive team selections are just some of the highlights of Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon‘s career.
People sometimes forget how great Hakeem was, especially in the 1990s. In an era run by Michael Jordan, in which he also played against legendary big men such as Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon definitely thrived in the most physical era of basketball. In all-time rankings, Olajuwon is probably a top 12 or 13 player.
To conclude, Nikola Jokic is still not a top 5 center of all time. But, he is already right up there
We already had the list of the top 5 centers in history, yet it’s still hard to put Nikola Jokic in the same sentence as them. However, the 28-year-old Serbian is definitely headed in that direction.
If Nikola Jokic wins this NBA Finals, with his 2 MVPs, is he a top 5 center of all time? 👀 pic.twitter.com/u91SwaNE73
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 11, 2023
If he continues to win more championships and MVPs, will Nikola Jokic become the best center in NBA history once it’s all said and done? As of today, Jokic is already definitely the best player in the league and could go on to become the next face of the NBA.
Do you agree with our take? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!
