The Denver Nuggets may not have enjoyed their best regular season, but Nikola Jokić’s incredible performance did not go unnoticed. The two-time MVP candidate once again put together a historic campaign, positioning himself among the favorites for the award and showcasing a level of dominance rarely seen in NBA history. His brilliance even caught the attention of Phoenix Suns legend Steve Nash.
Nash, a back-to-back MVP winner in 2005 and 2006, recently shared his admiration for Jokić’s game, suggesting that the Serbian center could one day be considered among the greatest players in league history if he continues at this pace.
“What did he average, a triple-double this year? Super high efficiency, team was hurt a lot. When your team is injured — Jamal Murray doesn’t play a lot, guys are in and out of the lineup, they maybe didn’t have the depth they had their championship year — you can load up on him a lot more. He still was crazy efficient and dominant. That to me is — if this guy does this for another five years, we’re talking like he’s on Mount Rushmore,” Nash said on The Old Man & The Three podcast.
While Nash excelled at the point guard position and Jokić plays center, both share a rare mastery of offensive orchestration. Jokić finished the season with one of the highest offensive ratings in the league, combining elite scoring, rebounding, and playmaking in a way few players, regardless of position, have achieved.
Nikola Jokic is the Denver Nuggets’ biggest star.
How Nikola Jokic continues to redefine greatness
Jokić has transformed the traditional role of an NBA center. Historically, big men have dominated through size, strength, and post scoring. Jokić, however, has revolutionized the position with his extraordinary vision, passing creativity, and ability to run the offense like a point guard. His role as a “point center” often sees him initiating plays from the top of the key or even the perimeter, a style rarely seen from players his size.
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His unique approach draws frequent comparisons to some of the game’s elite playmakers. Despite the differences in size and role, both Nash and Jokić share an intuitive feel for the game, manipulating defenses with precision and a high basketball IQ.
Jokić’s remarkable blend of scoring, rebounding, and passing—combined with his historic efficiency—has solidified his status as one of the most transformative players in the modern NBA. As Nash noted, if Jokić maintains this level of excellence over the next several years, he will have more than earned his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
