Dirk Nowitzki calls Nikola Jokic basketball genius

Legendary NBA player Dirk Nowitzki was impressed by the performances of 28-year-old Nikola Jokić. The Serbian halfway is having a play that whitethorn adjacent beryllium amended than the erstwhile one, erstwhile helium averaged a triple-double arsenic a center. True, with the accomplishment of Jonas Valančunas, the numbers person dropped a spot successful immoderate segments, but his tract extremity percentages are present astatine an "all-time high" and are regularly discussed connected American podcasts.

Recently, Paul Pierce and the full ESPN assemblage started a communicative astir this three-time MVP, seeing the Serb arsenic the main campaigner for the prestigious award. Although the play is inactive young, Jokić has present received "his flowers" from the erstwhile NBA champion.

"Nikola is simply incredible. Considering that helium lacks athleticism, it indispensable beryllium said that helium is perhaps, probably, the champion subordinate successful the world. His accomplishment level is retired of this world. The mode helium reads the game, his hoops IQ... It's simply incredible. And helium is truthful large and physically superior to smaller players," said Nowitzki.

Nowitzki explains his views

The Serbian halfway has a superior violative arsenal and is precise hard to defender successful immoderate portion of the court.

"With me, you could defender shorter players, I had problems successful the post. But helium is truthful large that you can't defender him with shorter players. It's simply impossible. He is besides a large rebounder. Against gangly players, helium draws them out. He tin play with his back, helium tin gully opponents, helium tin play pick-and-roll. Now helium besides has a three-point shot. But what impresses maine is however helium reads the game, his passes are connected a wholly antithetic level. I person ever been a instrumentality of his, of course, due to the fact that of the mode helium plays," added Nowitzki.

Nikola is averaging 28.7 points, 13 rebounds and 10.9 assists this season, with 2 steals per game. The numbers from past play are astir the same, but this twelvemonth helium is shooting an unthinkable 67% from the field; 10% much than the erstwhile season, erstwhile helium had the champion statistical play of his career. The superb halfway continues to amusement wherefore helium is 1 of the astir implicit players today.