On a recent episode of the “To The Baha” podcast, former Brooklyn Nets guard Theo Pinson found himself in the middle of one of basketball’s most polarizing debates.
The kind that fires up fans and fuels sports talk everywhere. NBA Central posted the clip to X, and just like that, Kevin Durant vs. Nikola Jokić was back on the timeline. This time, though, it came with a twist — and some high praise for a third NBA legend.
Theo Pinson Ranks Nikola Jokić Over Kevin Durant
While discussing NBA greats, Pinson admitted he’s no longer sure if Kevin Durant still ranks ahead of Jokić — and he explained why. It started with a simple question: Is Durant still above Jokić on the all-time list?
Pinson, who once played with Durant in Brooklyn, gave an honest and thoughtful response.
“It’s hard, man. It’s hard,” he said. “KD probably is the best scorer you’d see at seven feet too — that can put the ball on the floor, that can shoot mid-range, that can shoot the three, that can handle the ball…”
Theo Pinson isn’t sure if Kevin Durant is still ahead of Nikola Jokic on the all-time scale…👀
(🎥 @ToTheBaha ) pic.twitter.com/KGxVC1dRv7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 4, 2025
He praised Durant’s once-in-a-generation scoring skill set but quickly turned the conversation toward the reigning MVP.
“But Jokić can possibly be the best big we have seen,” he added.
Then Pinson took it further. He said Jokić’s impact on today’s game deserves the same recognition Steph Curry gets.
“We gotta put Jokić in the same category as Steph, as a big man that possibly changed the game on how the bigs wanna start playing now. You think about them, the bigs trying to shoot 3s.”
Then came the defining point. Pinson emphasized just how unique Jokić is:
“You’re not gonna be able to get another Jokić, like there’s never gonna be another Steph,” Pinson said. “There’s going to be people that can shoot the s*** out of the ball, but there’s never gonna be another Steph Curry. So you gotta stop putting him in the same category. There is never going to be another Jokić. I’m just being honest.”
Jokić’s Dominant Season Fuels the Fire Further
Jokić’s résumé backs up Pinson’s take. This season, he’s averaging 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, leading Denver to fourth in the West with a 47–31 record. His 61-point triple-double against the Minnesota Timberwolves is the highest-scoring triple-double in NBA history. Add in a 30-20-20 game earlier this season, and it’s easy to see why he’s redefining what it means to be a big man.
Curry, who Pinson compared Jokić to, is already considered a game-changer. He’s the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers, a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, and 11-time All-Star. His shooting changed how teams build around the perimeter.
Durant, meanwhile, is still putting up strong numbers—26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 62 games — but his legacy continues to draw scrutiny. Still, with two championships, one MVP, and 15 All-Star selections, Durant’s place in history is locked in.
Pinson’s comments come at a time when fans are already debating the future of the NBA’s hierarchy. And when a former player says there’s never going to be another Jokić? That’s bound to turn heads. With Jokić dominating, the conversation about who truly belongs in the game’s top tier is only getting louder.