The Hall of Fame forward, Dirk Nowitzki, shared his thoughts when asked about today’s basketball game and who the best player is. For him, Nikola Jokić is operating on a level very few players in NBA history have ever reached. Nowitzki, widely regarded as one of the greatest skilled big men ever, shared strong praise for the Denver Nuggets superstar.
Dirk Nowitzki Calls Nikola Jokić Best Player in the World
In an appearance on Haymaker, Nowitzki spoke with admiration about Jokic’s game and why he believes the Nuggets center stands at the top of the league right now.
“He’s incredible. With the lack of athleticism, you really have to say that he’s arguably the best player in the world. Just skill level out of this world. How he reads the game, his basketball IQ, it’s just incredible,” Nowitzki said.
He expanded on what separates Jokic from other dominant bigs:
“He’s just so big and overpowering with little guys. See, with me, you could always get away with guarding me with little guys… but he is just so big that you cannot guard him with little guys. He just makes it impossible. And he’s so good as a rebounder, too.”
Nowitzki also pointed to Jokic’s versatility as a reason defenders can’t solve him.
“With the big guys, he just draws them out. You can post them, you can draw them out, run the pick-and-roll. He’s got the three-point shot now.”
But the legendary Maverick didn’t stop there.
“What impresses me is how he reads the game, and the passing is just next level. So, I have always been a fan of his game, how he plays the game.”
Jokic’s Blazing Start to the Season
Denver’s success this season only reinforces Nowitzki’s words. The Nuggets are off to a scorching 10–2 start and are riding a seven-game winning streak.
Jokic has been the leading scorer in all seven victories, delivering four 30-plus-point performances and a jaw-dropping 55-point explosion in a 130–116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
His season numbers look like something out of a record book: 28.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game on 67.2% shooting from the field and 42.6% from three. That production has the Nuggets sitting second in the Western Conference, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jokic’s résumé backs up the praise as well. The 2023 NBA champion and three-time MVP has finished top two in MVP voting in each of the last five seasons, a run of dominance rarely seen in league history.
With Denver rolling and Jokic at the peak of his powers, Nowitzki’s assessment only echoes what many have already concluded: Jokic undoubtedly tops the “best player in the world” debate.