Nikola Jokic is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of this century. For years, he has starred with the Denver Nuggets, leading them to their first NBA title in 2023. The Serbian superstar’s massive impact on the game has earned him plenty of high praise — but few compliments have been as unusual as the one delivered by Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“Jokic is like with water polo,” Mazzulla said in a recent interview on the Games With Names podcast. “If you watch water polo, you’re essentially watching Jokic play. That’s exactly how — that’s how he plays.”
Far from being a dig or a joke, the Boston coach made the comparison as a genuine compliment, highlighting Jokic’s unique qualities that make him such an effective and unconventional player on the court.
“You can tell how he palms the ball, how he one-touch passes it when it’s midair, how he almost embraces people draping on him because like you’re having to do both of those things,” Mazzulla continued. “And like watching him is like watching a water polo there. So like when I watch Jokic, I see water polo.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla
Jokic’s versatile style of play
The Nuggets star possesses a complete and diverse skill set that allows him to contribute in virtually every area of the game. He has transformed the perception of what a big man can and should do on the court, expanding on the evolution that earlier players like Kevin Garnett introduced to the league.
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Jokic’s versatility makes him a central figure on both ends of the floor. Not only is he Denver’s scoring leader — finishing the 2024–25 regular season ranked third in the NBA in points per game with 29.6 — but he’s also an elite playmaker and a critical piece on defense.
In addition to his scoring, Nikola excels at facilitating, finishing second in the league in assists per game with 10.2. He also ranked second in defensive rebounds (9.9) and sixth in steals (1.8).
Mazzulla also analyzes Embiid and Harden
After describing Jokic, Mazzulla turned his attention to another dominant international big man, Joel Embiid, emphasizing how his background in other sports has shaped his game. “When I watch Embiid, I see how you know, his soccer background gave him the footwork,” Joe said. “The angles, the hand-eye coordination, the timing to be so effective for such a big guy.”
Finally, the Boston coach discussed James Harden — again, with an unexpected comparison. “Watching him play is like listening to like Moonlight Sonata. Like, never gets sped up. Plays at his own pace,” Mazzulla explained. “Always smooth. Does what he does, you know.”
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