The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers played one of the most entertaining games in the playoffs so far. Nikola Jokic led his team to a 101-99 victory over Lebron James and the Lakers. The game was full of great moments and spectacular play from the stars involved. Apparently, the action in the stands turned violent when one of Jokic’s brothers punched a fan. Shortly after the incredible game-winning shot by Jamal Murray, Jokic’s brother was filmed punching a fan in the stands.
The clip shows Jokic’s older brother, Strahinja, in an altercation with a fan. It’s a terrible incident to have, especially after your brother just won an important game. Jokic’s older brothers are massive guys who are known to get into altercations with anyone and everybody. They have confronted referees, fans, and even opposing players in the past to defend their little brother. It’s unacceptable behavior from someone who is related to a two-time MVP, especially in the playoffs. The NBA is reportedly looking into the incident.
The video shows Strahinja jumping over seats to punch a fan. He pushed his way through a crowd of fans to confront the man. Strahinja was clearly eager to get close, and as soon as he did, he punched him in the face. The fan and Jokic Brother continued to bark at one another for some time after the incident. Nikola’s wife was seated by Strahinja and close to the incident the entire time, holding the two-time MVP’s young daughter. At this point, we don’t know what started the incident, but the Jokic brothers are known to defend their families even if they are in the wrong.
The Nuggets now lead the Lakers 2-0 and will head to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday. Nikola Jokic dropped an impressive triple-double of 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. His partner in crime, Jamal Murray, scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. Murray nailed a dagger at the buzzer to devastate the Lakers. The incident with Jokic’s brother will hopefully not be a distraction for the defending champion.
In recent days, a new meme has started to surface, and it turns out that Lil Yachty is at the root of it.
As Know Your Meme notes, Yachty performed at the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash concert in 2021, and a clip of his energetic walk out to the stage has racked up over 4.5 million views on YouTube since it was uploaded on June 2022. Here’s that video:
The unmodified video started to be used as a reaction meme here and there, but it has found new life this April, after a post from X (formerly Twitter) account @AIWarper generated some attention. The tweet includes the video, but modified, using a tool called Viggle AI, to replace Yachty with Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker.
A version featuring New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has gone viral in the sports world, so much so that Thibodeau was asked about it in a recent press conference. He revealed that he was originally showed the clip by one of his players, Mitchell Robinson, and that he thought Robinson himself made the video.
NBA All-Star Weekend is almost here, taking place on Sunday, February 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The entire weekend will consist of its usual events, including competitions like the Celebrity Game, as well as the 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contests, among others. As the event draws closer and anticipation rises, the starting lineups for the 2023-2024 NBA All-Star Game have been revealed.
The 73rd edition of the All-Star Game sees the NBA returning to the traditional Eastern vs. Western conference format, with two guards and three front-court players as starters. They previously implemented a draft in 2017 where captains chose players regardless of conference. According to NBA Communications, three voting groups determined the All-Star starters: 50% fan votes, 25% players, and 25% media panel. Additionally, head coaches chose the reserves for each team. Both conferences are stacked with big names and many of the best players in the league. As we recently covered the Eastern Conference starters, we will be spotlighting this year’s NBA All-Stars in the Western Conference. Take a look at the players below.
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after the Dallas Mavericks scored against the Orlando Magic in the second half at American Airlines Center on November 06, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
This year’s starters for the NBA All-Star Western Conference are a multinational group, with three of the five starters being non-American. Including Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo and Cameroonian Joel Embiid in the Eastern Conference, the All-Star teams contain international stars on the lineups. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić hails from Slovenia. Currently leading his team’s franchise leader for career triple-doubles, this is Dončić’s fifth NBA All-Star selection and fourth as a starter. When he made the Western Conference in 2020, he became the youngest European player to start in an All-Star game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 16: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after hitting the game winning shot against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on November 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
This year is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second selection for the NBA All-Star Game. The Canadian guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder made his All-Star debut last year. He ranked number one in player and media voting, becoming the fourth player in Thunder history to become an All-Star, joining the likes of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Paul George. The Thunder currently stand at number 3 in the Western Conference under the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
To no surprise, LeBron James is an NBA All-Star starter. This year marks his record-breaking 20th All-Star selection, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in doing so. Last year, James also broke Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time league scoring record. Since he was first selected in the 2004-2005 season, the arguable GOAT has been a 7x captain and won 3 Game MVP Awards. Starting in 2018, he and Team LeBron won the All-Star Game for five consecutive years until 2023. While James’ team may have lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team last All-Star Weekend, he is more than capable of securing another win.
Kevin Durant
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 06: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets drives with the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Besides LeBron James, Kevin Durant has been selected as an NBA All-Star more than any other player. This year is his 14th All-Star selection and 12th as a starter. Since his first selection in 2010, he has received the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award twice. In 2023, Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns after spending three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. That same year, he rose on the NBA’s All-Time Scoring List, currently ranking at the tenth spot. In the Western Conference, the Suns stand at number six with 27 wins and 20 losses this season.
Nikola Jokić
DENVER, CO – APRIL 07: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against the Memphis Grizzlies at Ball Arena on April 7, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
After winning the NBA championship last year with the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokić secured his sixth All-Star selection. The Serbian center first became an All-Star in 2019 and has been representing the Nuggets ever since. He is the only Denver player besides Alex English to start in four All-Star games. With Jokić’s help, the Nuggets have become a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Currently standing in second place, we will see if Denver has what it takes to reclaim the title they won last season.
Carmelo Anthony has sounded off against his former team, the Denver Nuggets, about their decision to give Nikola Jokic his old number. “When you think of 15 in Denver now, to this generation, you thinking Joker. I’m like, ‘F-ck is going on? 15?’” Melo told the 7am in Brooklyn podcast. Furthermore, Melo called the move “petty”.
Melo spent eight years in Denver to begin his NBA career. However, after a string of playoff misses and one-and-done first-round exits, Melo announced that he would be exploring free agency when his contract expired in 2011. However, rather than let him walk, the Nuggets traded Melo to the Knicks. Before coming to the NBA, Jokic also wore No. 15 in Serbia.
However, during a separate appearance on 7am in Brooklyn, Melo got a chance to share some love for a close friend. As Jadakiss gave Usher his flowers for his recently-ended Vegas residency, he also mentioned that he still fondly remembered his time working with Usher. A moment later, Anthony was dropping a perfect cover of Kiss’ verse from that collaboration, “Throwback”. “He killed it!” Jadakiss exclaimed once Anthony had powered through the verse. You can watch Melo’s impromptu performance below. Let us know in the comments what you thought of Melo’s performance.
Jadakiss and Melo have been friends for most of Anthony’s professional basketball career. After Melo retired in May, Kiss was sure to honor his close friend. As Jadakiss began his performance at an Air Jordan event in July, he played audio from the 2003 NBA Draft, specifically the announcement of Melo going third overall to the Nuggets. Melo was in the crowd and was evidentially touched by the unorthodox shoutout. Kiss has also referred to Anthony as his “little brother” on numerous occasions during their friendship. Furthermore, Kiss’ son previously called his dad the “Melo of the [music] industry”, drawing yet another parallel between the pair.
3.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the ball was inbounded to Nikola Jokic at three-quarters court. He dribbled to the Chase Center logo near the Warriors bench, lifted over Kevon Looney and gamed the Golden State Warriors.
The Denver Nuggets outlasted Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a Thursday night on TNT thriller 130-127. Jokic dropped 34 points on 13-of-15 shooting, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Additionally, Aaron Gordon had 30 points and Jamal Murray added 25.
“That was the last option with that play,” Jokic said. “I just took a shot. I think those shots are the easiest shots to take. You don’t have any other options. So actually, when I felt it, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to bank this.’ You can see the flight of the ball, and I just knew I was going to bank it.”
On the other end of the court, Curry dropped 30 and Klay Thompson added 24.
You can see Jokic’s interview with Inside the NBA and highlights below.
Nikola Jokic has tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record for the most “perfect” triple-double – a triple-double with perfect shooting. Jokic’s 26/14/10 night with 11-for-11 shooting helped the Nuggets halt the four-game run of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies had appeared unstoppable since the return of Ja Morant. However, the performance marked Jokic’s third such triple-double, tying the long-standing mark set by Chamberlain. The only other player in NBA history to record multiple “perfect” triple-doubles is Draymond Green with two.
However, Jokic was humble when speaking about the game. “It’s a miss and make game. Of course, sometimes you miss, sometimes you make. Today I made all of my shots. It’s not going to be a lot of those nights,” Jokic said. However, Jokic sat out the last 1:31 of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter after achieving the stats needed for the triple-double. Furthermore, head coach Mike Malone echoed Jokic’s comments. “[Jokic] was 11-for-11 tonight. He doesn’t care about that. If Jamal has got it going, he’s clapping for Jamal. He takes more joy in his teammates’ success [than his own], and that’s the true definition of being selfless. And he lives it every day,” Malone said.
Dwight Howard Claims His Prime Was Better Than Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic had FULL COMMAND of the floor tonight in the Nuggets’ dominating 142-105 win!
26 PTS (11/11 FGM) 14 REB 10 AST
The Joker joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double on 100% shooting (Min. 10 FGA) in multiple games. pic.twitter.com/KS0v6Wh9gY
While Jokic consistently finds himself in rare company, there are those who don’t see him as a true GOAT. “So, people look at that and say, “Well, Jokić, he scores and does all this stuff.” And no offense, I think he’s great. I love Jokić, I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to hate even comparing, but I’m going to take myself. I know how dominant I was and I know what I could do with my skills. And on the defensive end and on the offensive end I was quick enough to get past everybody,” Dwight Howard told Complex in July.
Furthermore, he continued to expound on how he compared to Jokic. “So, I didn’t necessarily have to use skill moves and stuff like that all the time to score. I use my speed a lot, I use power to finesse or sometimes speed to finish with power. I just had an array of different things but people just remember seeing me dunk the ball on people’s head. And I love Jokić and I’m happy for him. I think he’s one of the best centers that ever played the game on basketball. [But] I’m Dwight Howard. I know what I’ve done in this league.” At the time of writing, Howard has 19485 points (55th) and 10476 rebounds (10th). Jokic has 12897 points (227th) and 6669 rebounds (137th).
What is sports without athletes? 2023 was full of performances that wowed, defied, and defined their individual sports. As the year winds down, HotNewHipHop is here to reflect on some of the athletes that we feel defined the last year of sport.
10. Erling Haaland
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The big question in the summer of 2022 was where Norwegian soccer superstar Erling Haaland was going to go after leaving Borussia Dortmund. The answer ended up being Manchester City, where Haaland proceeded to redefine individual success in England (and European football). Manchester City achieved a historic treble behind Haaland’s record-breaking 52 goals in all competitions. Jump ahead to the start of the 2023-24 season and Haaland already has another 17 goals. There are few soccer players on the planet as in form as Erling Haaland.
9. LeBron James
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a three-point basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on November 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
While the 2022-23 season wasn’t LeBron’s best, it was certainly historic. In February, the veteran NBA star became the league’s all-time scorer, surpassing the mark set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1989. In November, LeBron became the first player in league history to surpass 39,000 career points. Furthermore, the 2023-24 season saw LeBron join the elite group of just five other players who played at least 21 seasons in the league. Additionally, age doesn’t appear to have dulled LeBron’s instincts as he continues to play at an elite level on a potential contender team.
8. Sha’Carri Richardson
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 26: Sha’Carri Richardson of Team United States wins the Women’s 4x100m Relay Final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Sha’Carri Richardson roared back onto the track in 2023. That began with running the fourth-fastest women’s 100m in history in April. The following month, she set a new meet record in Doha as she claimed her first Diamond League title. Arguably her peak came in August as she captured gold in the 100m at the World Championships in Budapest. While she missed out on a medal at the Diamond League Final, Richardson undoubtedly set herself up to be a gold medal favorite at the Olympics next year.
7. Max Verstappen
Las Vegas, NV – November 19: Race winner Max Verstappen sprays champagne following the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images)
Max Verstappen has once again been in a league of his own when it comes to Formula 1. With a record 19 race wins, and a record-breaking 10 in a row, Verstappen cruised to a second consecutive title. To put an even finer point on things, Verstappen is over 270 points clear of the second-place driver, Sergio Pérez. Verstappen has redefined the meaning of success in motorsport and is set for a long period of dominance in the years to come.
6. Jake Paul
DALLAS, TEXAS – AUGUST 05: Jake Paul poses for a photo after defeating Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center on August 05, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The world of boxing saw a lot of great fights and fighters this year. However, few achieved the visibility of Jake Paul. Paul continued his trend of cherry-picking big-name fights with marquee opponents. However, he opened the year with a fight against actual boxer Tommy Fury. That ended up being the first loss of Paul’s career, while also highlighting that Paul could hold his own against real boxers. That said, he immediately turned around and challenged former UFC fighter Nate Diaz. While the fight wasn’t as much of a tomato can as people thought it would be, it still didn’t push Paul. He will close out his biggest year yet with a fight against established boxer Andre August in December.
5. Simone Biles
Simone Biles (USA) compete on the floor during the 2023 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 8, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
After two years away from gymnastics, Simone Biles made an explosive return to the sport in 2023. It all started with a stunning return at the US Championships. That earned Biles a place at the World Championships in Belgium. Biles came away with four golds and a silver, as well as a qualification berth at the Olympics next year. Biles made an inspiring return to the sport that she loves, and showed that she hadn’t lost a single shred of the talent that helped her define it. All this sets up is another chance for Biles to redefine the sport in Paris next summer.
4. Shohei Ohtani
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after fouling off a pitch against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the seventh inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 03, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Even those who don’t follow baseball know who Shohei Ohtani is. The Japanese two-way star is so prolific that several outlets set up running trackers of all the historic things that Ohtani did during the season. Sadly, the Angels were once again terrible, meaning that Ohtani’s unanimous MVP season was ultimately wasted. However, he is now set to become a free agent with a value in excess of $500 million. No one is playing baseball like Shohei.
3. Angel Reese
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 06: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers is introduced before a game against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena on November 06, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes defeated the Lady Tigers 92-78. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark may have been the National Player of the Year, but Angel Reese was undoubtedly the star of college basketball this year. From her record-breaking double-double streak to hitting the “You Can’t See Me” in the National Championship Game, Reese stole the spotlight. However, things didn’t end with LSU’s title. Reese immediately began a beef with the First Lady. Before she mysteriously took an absence from the team, Reese opened the 2023-24 season with double-doubles in her first three games and was well on her way to a fourth before she got benched against Kent State.
2. Patrick Mahomes
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 20, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Heading up the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes more than earned his MVP award for the 2022 season. Last season, Mahomes threw for over 5200 yards and 41 touchdowns. That culminated with Mahomes leading a second-half comeback against the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Jumping ahead to the start of the 2023 season, Mahomes is already having another great season as the Chiefs look well on their way to another Super Bowl.
1. Nikola Jokic
DENVER, COLORADO – OCTOBER 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets calls for the attention of a teammate against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Ball Arena on October 30, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic is perhaps one of the most fascinating athletes of the modern NBA. And a big part of what makes him so fascinating is how much Jokic appears to hate being one of the faces of the NBA. He is a man who plays some of the best basketball in the world but has no interest in participating in the media circus, or really any basketball that he’s not legally contracted to play. Jokic is a man who would rather race horses in his home country of Serbia than play in the offseason. But despite this, he powered the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title and was arguably snubbed for his third consecutive MVP award. There really isn’t a player quite like Nikola Jokic.
Do you agree with our list? Did we miss your favorite athlete? Let us know in the comments. 2024 promises to be another exceptional year. Will someone knock Mahomes and Jokic from their thrones? Who will shine at the Olympics in Paris next July? It’s going to take a lot to top the excitement of 2023, but 2024 might just be the year to do it.
Nikola Jokic, the Serbian professional basketball player, has been making waves in the NBA since his debut in 2015. Known for his exceptional skills and unique style of play, Jokic has quickly risen to become one of the most influential players in the league. His journey from a second-round draft pick to an NBA superstar is nothing short of inspiring. But, what does this success translate to in terms of net worth? As of 2023, it’s estimated that Jokic’s net worth stands at a staggering $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Jokic’s net worth is a testament to his talent and hard work. The majority of his wealth comes from his lucrative NBA contracts. In 2018, he signed a five-year contract with the Denver Nuggets worth $148 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league. This contract alone significantly contributed to his current net worth.
DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 12: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets speaks with media after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
In addition to his NBA salary, Jokic also earns a substantial income from endorsements. He has partnered with several high-profile brands, including Western Union and Nike, further boosting his earnings. While the exact figures from these deals are not publicly disclosed, they undoubtedly add a significant amount to his net worth.
Jokic’s financial portfolio extends beyond the basketball court and endorsement deals. Like many athletes, he has invested in various ventures, diversifying his income sources. While the details of these investments remain private, they undoubtedly contribute to his impressive net worth.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jokic’s financial success is a direct reflection of his impact on the court. His unique playing style, characterized by his exceptional passing ability and versatile scoring, has revolutionized the center position in the NBA. His performances have not only earned him a lucrative contract but also the respect and admiration of fans and fellow players alike.
In 2021, Jokic’s outstanding performances were recognized when he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). This accolade further solidified his status as one of the league’s top players and undoubtedly increased his marketability, leading to more lucrative endorsement deals.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter in game three of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
At just 28 years old, Jokic’s career is far from over. With several years left in his prime, his net worth is likely to continue to grow, especially after leading the Nuggets to victory in the 2022-2023 season. As he continues to perform at a high level, more endorsement deals and investment opportunities are likely to come his way.
Moreover, when his current contract with the Denver Nuggets expires, Jokic will likely command an even larger salary. Given his status as one of the NBA’s top players, teams will undoubtedly be willing to pay a premium to secure his services.
Nikola Jokic’s net worth of $50 million in 2023 is a testament to his talent, hard work, and impact on the NBA. His journey from a second-round draft pick to an NBA superstar is a story of perseverance and dedication. As he continues to dominate on the court, his net worth is only expected to rise. Jokic is not just a star player in the NBA; he is also a successful businessman, making strategic investments and endorsement deals that contribute to his wealth. His story is an inspiration to aspiring athletes around the world.
Dwight Howard is nothing if not a workhorse basketball player. The first overall pick in 2004, he went on to have a dominant career in the NBA. Eight-time all-star, five-time all-NBA first team, a championship in 2020. Furthermore, his defense was truly elite. He won back-to-back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards and made four all-defensive first teams. Add in an Olympic gold medal and a host of other accolades and you have a first-ballot Hall of Famer right there.
However, Howard isn’t technically retired. Starting in 2022, Howard has been playing in the Taiwanese League. At the end of his first season, he had captured an all-star nod and Most Valuable Import. He also earned first-team honors for both the league as a whole and all-defense. However, Howard is now making some bold claims about Nikola Jokić.
Howard Claims Better Prime Than Jokic
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – FEBRUARY 19: Dwight Howard #12 of the Taoyuan Leopard made a three point shot during the T1 League game between TaiwanBeer HeroBears and Taoyuan Leopards at University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium on February 19, 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Howard went off while speaking to Complex. “Obviously, people going to say Jokić can score. He got all those offensive skills. But at the same time, I was getting 38 and 20, 45-18, 19, 20, and I’m doing all this with twos. No threes, all twos. I’m doing this with lobs. I’m not getting a lot of post-up attempts like Jokic. He’s getting way more opportunities I would say. And I was just in a different era. So, people look at that and say, “Well, Jokić, he scores and does all this stuff.” And no offense, I think he’s great. I love Jokić, I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to hate even comparing, but I’m going to take myself. I know how dominant I was and I know what I could do with my skills. And on the defensive end and on the offensive end I was quick enough to get past everybody.”
He continued. “So, I didn’t necessarily have to use skill moves and stuff like that all the time to score. I use my speed a lot, I use power to finesse or sometimes speed to finish with power. I just had an array of different things but people just remember seeing me dunk the ball on people’s head. And I love Jokić and I’m happy for him. I think he’s one of the best centers that ever played the game on basketball. [But] I’m Dwight Howard. I know what I’ve done in this league.” At the time of writing, Howard has 19485 points (55th) and 10476 rebounds (10th). Jokić has 12054 points (273rd) and 6273 rebounds (165th).
Dennis Rodman is one of the biggest icons in NBA history. From being a member of the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons to helping Jordan cement his legacy in Chicago. The history of the NBA cannot be told without a chapter on the outspoken Hall of Famer. Recently, the former Bulls star tossed out another opinion that is sure to ignite a certain fanbase in Boston. Maybe even the entire NBA fanbase as a whole. When discussing Larry Bird, Rodman didn’t hold back his feelings on how Bird would be perceived in today’s game.
In a sitdown interview with ‘VLADTV‘ Rodman shared his feelings on how Bird’s game would translate to the style of today. “If Larry Bird played in this era, I think he’d be in Europe… I think [Nikola Jokic] from Denver is way better than him.” That comment will for sure make headlines this week. However, Rodman’s context may help others understand what he is saying. Check out the quote in a clip from the interview below.
The multi-time NBA champion acknowledges the greatness of Bird in his time. However, Rodman believes the game has evolved so much that very few could handle the style of play today. But saying one of the greatest of all time couldn’t hack it now might be a little bit of a stretch. Bird is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever step on the hardwood. With championships and numerous other accolades to back up his play, Bird being a slouch in today’s game would be hard to imagine.
However, Rodman is one of the former players with a strong belief in how far the game has come. Including having high praise for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Jokic and the Nuggets just capped off a historic season with an NBA title. However, Jokic failed in his quest to three-peat for the NBA MVP Award. So, do you agree with Dennis Rodman that many of the greats from the past couldn’t perform today? Or do you believe Larry’s game would translate in a massive way? Let us know in the comment section. For the latest news in sports, keep it right here with HNHH.
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26 PTS (11/11 FGM)
