15-year NBA veteran Danny Green compared Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic to LeBron James
Apr 29, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball under pressure from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
After winning three NBA MVPs in the last four years, Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic has cemented himself as one of the best big men to ever play the game. While Jokic only has one championship on his resume so far, he is undoubtedly one of the top players of this generation.
Jokic could be on his way to a fourth MVP, averaging 29.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game with impressive 56.7/47.2/81.3 shooting splits.
15-year NBA veteran and three-time champion Danny Green had a bold take about Jokic, comparing the Nuggets center to NBA legend and LA Lakers forward LeBron James after the Nuggets lost to the New York Knicks.
KAT put his pride aside vs. Jokic last night and Draymond Green had just as much to say about it as we did…
“Jokic’s the LeBron of big men, going for his 4th MVP…this helped KAT win the game.” – @DGreen_14
“When guys use pride to guard Jokic they get torched.” – @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/10yd0dDzFi
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 30, 2025
“[Nikola Jokic] is not a regular player,” Green said. “He is the LeBron [James] of big men, going for his fourth MVP. He’s very good.”
Green’s Jokic-LeBron comparison is very bold and puts high expectations on the Nuggets superstar to carry Denver to more titles, but it certainly makes sense. Jokic has dominated the league over the past few seasons without having a dominant physical advantage but is instead simply smarter than his opponents, similar to the Lakers star.
Apr 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half in game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Jokic has certainly put himself in the conversation with some of the league’s best to ever play, but has a few championships to add to his resume before truly being in the same space as James.