“Joker makes everyone better,” Doc Rivers lists KEY difference between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid amidst race for MVP title

Doc Rivers believes Nikola Jokic is the MVP frontrunner. He said he was better overall than Joel Embiid and makes everyone better around him.

“Joker makes everyone better,” Doc Rivers lists KEY difference between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid amidst race for MVP title

Doc River thinks Nikola Jokic is the best player in the NBA, says Jokic makes everyone better around him (image via Twitter)

Doc Rivers is one of the most highly respected coaches in the NBA. He has not coached since leaving the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of last season. Since then, he has provided valuable insights on shows for the fans to take in. Recently, he delved into the topic of Nikola Jokic.

Rivers was a guest on the show KG Certified, which runs on the All The Smoke YouTube channel. Speaking with host Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Rivers was asked about his opinion on Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic. River’s said:

Joker makes everyone better. They run the whole offense around him.
Doc Rivers via KG Certified
YouTube video

Rivers added that Jokic helped his teammates and that the whole offensive game plan for the Nuggets ran better when he remained on the court. The entire Nuggets offense is centered around Jokic.

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Rivers coached Joel Embiid for the past three seasons. He knew the ins and outs of his former superstar player. Rivers stated that his former superstar, Joel Embiid, is the best-scoring big man in the league. And he was the only player who could stop Jokic. But Jokic has that extra finesse in his game, which gives him a slight edge over Embiid in the MVP race.

Pierce and Garnett add that the way two-time MVP Jokic reads opposition game plans and sets up teammates made him the best player in the league now. They also agree with their former coach that Jokic was unguardable with his style of play. Adding the distribution and game plan execution makes him a cut above the rest.

Doc Rivers has seen Jokic develop into the best player

Doc Rivers has coached in the NBA for a long time. Winning the title in 2008 coaching the Boston Celtics, he had Hall of Famer big man Kevin Garnett and Pierce heading a stud team. Rivers has extensive experience coaching for and against the best big men in the league for a long time. He has seen Jokic rise from the front seat to be the best player in the league.

Rivers thinks Joel Embiid is the best scorer in the league right now, but Jokic has an edge over Embiid with his playing style
Rivers thinks Joel Embiid is the best scorer in the league right now, but Jokic has an edge over Embiid with his playing style (image via Twitter)

Jokic is a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, NBA Champion. He is averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game this season. The stats do not reveal the entire story. His soft touch of the basketball makes him dangerous close and away from the rim. His adjustments on contact is something that opposition players struggle to stop.

Therefore, Rivers, Garnett, and Pierce are justified in their view that Jokic is the best player in the NBA. He is the MVP frontrunner, as per them. As of now, Jokic remains the best player in the league with Embiid and others just behind him.

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