Duke freshman Cameron Boozer continues to draw comparisons to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, with Jason McIntyre of “The Herd” the latest to praise his impact. The 18-year-old is primed to lead the Blue Devils’ charge for the NCAA Division I title.
Boozer has made quite the splash in college basketball and is already being projected by many as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has come up clutch for the Blue Devils time and again this season, averaging 22.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 10.2 rebounds per game with a field goal percentage of 56.5%, according to ESPN.
Jason McIntyre Compares Cameron Boozer to Nikola Jokić
Boozer, who is the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, received rave reviews from McIntyre during Monday’s edition of “The Herd.” McIntyre compared Boozer to Jokić and backed up his statement by comparing him to two of the most exciting players to come out of college basketball in recent years.
“Cam Boozer is 18 and a half years old. He should technically be a high school senior. Ken Pomeroy’s stats have Boozer as the most efficient player in college basketball in the last 25 years. That means more efficient than Cooper Flagg, Zion Williamson, those guys were dunking machines,” he said.
“He is ahead of Nikola Jokic’s pace. That’s how good this guy is.”
Is Duke’s Cam Boozer the next Nikola Jokic? @jasonrmcintyre makes the case pic.twitter.com/5a17RIeMzE
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 16, 2026
McIntyre then compared Boozer to Jokić and claimed that the Duke freshman is ahead of the Denver Nuggets star at that age.
“Cam Boozer is going to walk into the [NBA] next year and probably average 18 and 10… I’m not comparing him to 30-year-old Nikola Jokić. I’m comparing him to at that age at 18. He’s ahead of Nikola Jokić’s pace. That’s how good this guy is,” he added.
MARCH MADNESS: Fill In Your Bracket Now!
“His bag is ridiculous. He’ll take bigs off the bounce from the three-point line. The spin moves, he’s really talented. I think we’re selling him a little short because he doesn’t have the sizzle or flash of a Flagg or Williamson,” McIntyre further said.
This is not the first time Boozer has been compared to Jokić, with Howard head coach Kenny Blakeney recently calling him “baby Jokić.”
“If you watch the Duke game against us, Duke was closing out the game, running ball screens for a 6-foot-9, 250-pound dude to get downhill and make decisions. He shoots it well. He’s an incredible passer. He can do whatever he wants to do on the low block. It’s like the criticism from what I hear is that he’s not bouncy enough. Well, you can’t stop the stuff that he can do, so he doesn’t need to be,” he said.
Jokić had a very different path into the NBA, as he was drafted from the Serbian League and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting. He slowly established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league, thanks to his scoring and playmaking abilities.
Boozer plays with a similarly versatile style, inviting comparisons to the now three-time NBA MVP.
All eyes will be on Boozer as Duke begins its NCAA Tournament campaign against the Siena Saints on Thursday. With two starters, Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II, sidelined due to injury, Boozer will have a key role to play if the Blue Devils are to make a deep run in March. And then, the NBA could beckon.
