Nikola Jokic SIGNIFICANTLY better than Giannis Antetokounmpo, difference as wide as LeBron James and NBA’s second-best player in 2012, claims Celtics cult hero

Scalabrine drew an intriguing comparison between LeBron James and Nikola Jokic while discussing his reaction to ESPN's ranking.

Nikola Jokic SIGNIFICANTLY better than Giannis Antetokounmpo, difference as wide as LeBron James and NBA’s second-best player in 2012, claims Celtics cult hero

LeBron james (Credits: ESPN); Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic (Credits: Bleacher Report)

Nikola Jokic has indeed built an impressive NBA career with his unique offensive skills and exceptional court vision. He, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, has consistently been recognized as two of the league’s top players in recent seasons, leading to frequent comparisons between the two.

However, according to former NBA player Brian Scalabrine, Jokic is much better of a basketball player than Giannis. Once hailed as a fan favorite in Boston, Scalabrine said that the difference between Jokic and Giannis is as significant as it was between Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the second best player at the time.

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In ESPN’s recent player rankings for the upcoming season, Giannis Antetokounmpo claimed the top spot, while Nikola Jokic secured the second position. Seeing this, Scalabrine spoke on SiriusXM’s “NBA Radio,” and emphasized the significant gap that exists between him and other top stars in the league.

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“It’s as wide as it’s been since … really like 2012,” Scalabrine said. “I mean, look at what he did last year with that team. He’s doing everything. He’s playing a game, of the mentality game up there. He’s solid in defensive position. He’s always in the right spot. The guy is so freaking good. I just don’t understand, right now, how it’s not a wide margin.”

“Now listen, that thing could change,” Scalabrine added. “That could change but right now, after what we saw last year, it’s not even close.”

During Jokic’s championship-winning run, he posted remarkable statistics, averaging 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game. His sensational performance played a pivotal role in the Nuggets securing their first franchise title.

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Nikola Jokic expresses what it meant to win the 2023 NBA Championship

In the 2023 NBA Finals, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets clinched victory with a 4-1 series win over the Miami Heat. According to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, the two-time MVP expressed his emotions about finally winning the championship, especially in the face of doubters and critics.

Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic (Credits: Bleacher Report)

“We succeeded in our jobs, and we won the whole thing,” Jokic said. “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s a good feeling when you know you did something that nobody believes, and it’s just us. It’s just the organization, [the] Denver Nuggets believing in us, every player believing in each other,” the two-time MVP said.

Jokic took home back-to-back season MVPs in 2021 and 2022; however, one thing absent from his resume was a title. Putting on a show for his squad, the big man spearheaded the Nuggets to the ultimate silverware.

Despite all the MVP awards and triple-double achievements, there’s nothing quite like having an NBA championship secured on your resume.

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