Joker is one of the GOATs.
It’s difficult to believe that Nikola Jokic has already been in the NBA for a decade. The 2024-25 season marks his 10th year in the league, and February 19 is his 30th birthday. Seen as the icon of the European takeover of the NBA, Jokic is already cemented as the greatest European player in NBA history — but it’s easy to overlook that he’s also had one of the best 10-year runs in the history of the association.
Jokic’s career has not been about defying expectations, but redefining them. Proof positive that awareness and technique can thrive in a sport that puts a premium on athleticism. The dad-bod in the middle, Jokic has risen above his peers to make the Nuggets one of the best teams in the NBA over the course of his career — something that other stars in Denver struggled with consistently in the past.
While Jokic’s brilliance has always been couched in “best European,” or “best big man,” the reality is that his 10 years in the NBA puts him among some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
- Bill Russell (1956-1966): 5x MVP, 9x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1979): 6x MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 9 x NBA All-Star
- Larry Bird (1979-1989): 3x MVP, 3x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Michael Jordan (1984-1995): 3x MVP, 3x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- LeBron James (2003-2013): 4x MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 9x NBA All-Star
- Nikola Jokic (2015-2025): 3x MVP, 1x NBA Champion, 7x NBA All-Star
These are the only six players in the history of the NBA who won MVP at least three times, and were named to five or more NBA All-Star games in their first 10 seasons. Jokic’s season isn’t done yet, and while he and the Nuggets feel like outsiders for winning the NBA championship this year, the door is still open.
Among these six players only Russell, Kareem, Bird, and now Jokic managed to average over a double-double in their first 10 seasons. This shows that not only does Jokic’s individual awards warrant merit, but his statistics stand among the greats.
It’s past time to remove any qualifiers from Jokic’s legacy. To simply appreciate him as one of the best players of all time. Even if his career is still ongoing. We gave this level of deference to LeBron, now it’s Nikola’s turn.
