Nikola Jokic clinched his third MVP title this week, sparking heated debates about his place among the all-time greats in the NBA.
Despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive feat of three MVP awards, some in the NBA community hesitate to place him among the greatest centers in league history.
Paul Pierce, a Boston Celtics legend, recently excluded Jokic from his top 5 centers list, adding fuel to the ongoing debate about Jokic’s legacy.
In a recent episode of the Ticket & Truth podcast, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce delved into Nikola Jokic’s MVP win and his standing in the all-time rankings.
Pierce highlighted the challenge of ranking Jokic, given his active status in the league, but noted that retired centers currently occupy higher positions in the all-time big men hierarchy.
I don’t got him in the top 5 yet. Cause I just named Wilt (Chamberlain), Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal), David Robinson, (Bill) Russell, you know that’s six. Paul Pierce on the Ticket & Truth podcast.
Despite Paul Pierce’s current stance on Nikola Jokic’s ranking among the best centers, he holds the belief that the Serbian star has the potential to reach that status in the future.
Pierce remains resolute in his opinion that if Jokic were to retire now, he would still secure a place among the top 50 players of all time, showcasing confidence in the Joker’s abilities and accomplishments.
The former champion also predicts that Jokic could add one or two more MVP awards to his collection over the course of his career, further solidifying his place in NBA history.
Pierce’s assertions hold weight, especially considering Jokic’s age of 29 and his lone championship ring, factors that distinguish him from other players in the discussion of all-time greatness.
While Jokic may lack multiple championships compared to other stars, his exceptional skills undoubtedly warrant consideration as one of the premier centers in NBA history.
Paul Pierce Stands by Nikola Jokic Amid Third MVP Win
Despite widespread discontent over the MVP result since its announcement, numerous basketball veterans argue that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder deserved the award more.
However, the 2008 finals MVP came to the defense of Nikola Jokic against claims favoring SGA.
During an episode of Fox’s Undisputed, Pierce cited statistics to support his assertion that Jokic’s overall season performance reached MVP caliber. Additionally, he elaborated on why the league hesitated to crown SGA as the MVP.
What Joker did during the regular season is just MVP-ish, from top to bottom. The numbers is not gonna lie. Does Shai have an argument? Absolutely. When I look at his team, he doesn’t have a second All-Star, nor does Joker… I do believe Jamal as a second-best player is better than what Shai has as a second-best player. Paul Pierce on Fox’s Undisputed
“What Joker did during the regular season is MVP-ish. But if OKC had 20 televised games, Shai would’ve won.”
@PaulPierce34 on Nikola Jokic winning his 3rd MVP pic.twitter.com/Pc1uotrDLf— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 9, 2024
SGA had an impressive season, boasting a higher points average than Jokic, but he was outperformed in passing, rebounding, and field goal percentage. The Joker’s dominance in those categories solidified his superiority. Given Jokic’s standout year, the 25-year-old Thunder guard, SGA, will likely have more chances to contend for the award in the future.
