Research: Even with a max contract, Nikola Jokic is the most underpaid player in the NBA
The second-place finisher in MVP voting this year after winning the award back-to-back campaigns also won Finals MVP for the first time as Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets on a dominant run to the 2023 championship, a stretch in which Denver lost just once and its final 11 postseason outings. Jokic remains the best contract in basketball despite already earning a max salary, as Real Value believes he was underpaid by $37.0 million for his services in 2022-23. It’s not hard to see why, either, as Jokic’s ultra-efficient style of play is always going to be highly thought of by analytics. It has already led Denver to a lot of team success, with more surely on the way in the future.
Source: Frank Urbina @ HoopsHype
Source: Frank Urbina @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
StatMuse @statmuse
Players with 30+ triple-doubles before turning 25 years old:
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
Ben Simmons
Oscar Robertson
Magic Johnson pic.twitter.com/BUEvZiZhGp – 9:06 AM
Players with 30+ triple-doubles before turning 25 years old:
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
Ben Simmons
Oscar Robertson
Magic Johnson pic.twitter.com/BUEvZiZhGp – 9:06 AM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
“Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world. He changed the game a lot”.
Ognjen Stojakovic experienced Jokic’s rise in Denver firsthand and he talked about his mindset, Nuggets championship run and much more.
Exclusive on @SportalgrG. #bRINGItIn
sportal.gr/basket/nba/202… – 3:25 AM
“Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world. He changed the game a lot”.
Ognjen Stojakovic experienced Jokic’s rise in Denver firsthand and he talked about his mindset, Nuggets championship run and much more.
Exclusive on @SportalgrG. #bRINGItIn
sportal.gr/basket/nba/202… – 3:25 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Kevin Garnett thinks Nikola Jokic is the most humble NBA star he has ever seen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nBhRkW9XZA – 2:06 AM
Kevin Garnett thinks Nikola Jokic is the most humble NBA star he has ever seen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nBhRkW9XZA – 2:06 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
The MVP holiday begins: Nikola Jokic arrives at Sombor to watch a horse race 🐎👋
pic.twitter.com/9fq0hxjumq – 11:05 AM
The MVP holiday begins: Nikola Jokic arrives at Sombor to watch a horse race 🐎👋
pic.twitter.com/9fq0hxjumq – 11:05 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
A billboard in Sombor, the hometown of Nikola Jokic, welcomes back its hero 🇷🇸
📸 @SerbsInSports pic.twitter.com/W7wHvda1ad – 4:02 AM
A billboard in Sombor, the hometown of Nikola Jokic, welcomes back its hero 🇷🇸
📸 @SerbsInSports pic.twitter.com/W7wHvda1ad – 4:02 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Discovering Nikola Jokic in Sombor: Nobody even in Serbia knew that an #MVP was there
Igor Kovacevic from Vojvodina and Jokic’s first coach Ljuba Anicic talk about the first steps of an #NBA #Champion
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/15… – 9:57 AM
Discovering Nikola Jokic in Sombor: Nobody even in Serbia knew that an #MVP was there
Igor Kovacevic from Vojvodina and Jokic’s first coach Ljuba Anicic talk about the first steps of an #NBA #Champion
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/15… – 9:57 AM
Michael Singer @msinger
Asked KCP his favorite Joker story, and Kenny 2X was too savvy to say much. But we all saw those videos of Joker from Vegas.
“I don’t think I can say the one I’m thinking about,” Caldwell-Pope said. “… Jokic is one player that knows how to have fun.”
denverpost.com/2023/06/15/nik… – 9:46 AM
Asked KCP his favorite Joker story, and Kenny 2X was too savvy to say much. But we all saw those videos of Joker from Vegas.
“I don’t think I can say the one I’m thinking about,” Caldwell-Pope said. “… Jokic is one player that knows how to have fun.”
denverpost.com/2023/06/15/nik… – 9:46 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Bruce Brown blames Nikola Jokic for causing a hangover in Las Vegas 😂 pic.twitter.com/qavIQxU6Ba – 2:46 AM
Bruce Brown blames Nikola Jokic for causing a hangover in Las Vegas 😂 pic.twitter.com/qavIQxU6Ba – 2:46 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
“I fucking want to stay on parade.” – Nikola Jokic
pic.twitter.com/XfAMgQiZiE – 1:40 AM
“I fucking want to stay on parade.” – Nikola Jokic
pic.twitter.com/XfAMgQiZiE – 1:40 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Nikola Jokic having the time of his life in Las Vegas 🕺😁
pic.twitter.com/aitKeQNHgF – 1:24 AM
Nikola Jokic having the time of his life in Las Vegas 🕺😁
pic.twitter.com/aitKeQNHgF – 1:24 AM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
After this season, Nikola Jokic is one of two players in NBA history to average 20 PTS, 10 REB and 5 AST for a career.
The other player is Larry Bird 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lbjYtyTF5l – 9:57 PM
After this season, Nikola Jokic is one of two players in NBA history to average 20 PTS, 10 REB and 5 AST for a career.
The other player is Larry Bird 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lbjYtyTF5l – 9:57 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Casual Friday. Let’s talk about Jokic. Going to be a fun one.
youtube.com/live/cnHE28BRZ… – 6:05 PM
Casual Friday. Let’s talk about Jokic. Going to be a fun one.
youtube.com/live/cnHE28BRZ… – 6:05 PM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Wrote about Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, Domantis Sabonis and how playmaking centers are changing the NBA, for @RealGM basketball.realgm.com/analysis/27193… – 5:36 PM
Wrote about Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, Domantis Sabonis and how playmaking centers are changing the NBA, for @RealGM basketball.realgm.com/analysis/27193… – 5:36 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
From earlier — Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… – 5:34 PM
From earlier — Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… – 5:34 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
New That’s OD! Can Nuggets run it back, is Joker best player in the league , the gap for the Lakers/Clippers with the Nuggets, Bradley Beal and Zion moves and KAT changing game with @mcten youtu.be/i0lOJyXG8BA – 3:57 PM
New That’s OD! Can Nuggets run it back, is Joker best player in the league , the gap for the Lakers/Clippers with the Nuggets, Bradley Beal and Zion moves and KAT changing game with @mcten youtu.be/i0lOJyXG8BA – 3:57 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
My official Summer of 2023 NBA Trade Value list on @ringer. All hail the Joker!!! We finalized the list last night on the BS Pod and @HousefromDC even swung a couple rankings by berating me for my stupidity.
nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value – 3:09 PM
My official Summer of 2023 NBA Trade Value list on @ringer. All hail the Joker!!! We finalized the list last night on the BS Pod and @HousefromDC even swung a couple rankings by berating me for my stupidity.
nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value – 3:09 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Bruce Brown on IG Live, hungover in Vegas: “I’m down bad, and I blame Nikola Jokic.”
“I don’t know how I let him get me this drunk.”
“I don’t know what he had me drinking last night, but I blame it on 15.” – 3:05 PM
Bruce Brown on IG Live, hungover in Vegas: “I’m down bad, and I blame Nikola Jokic.”
“I don’t know how I let him get me this drunk.”
“I don’t know what he had me drinking last night, but I blame it on 15.” – 3:05 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
My official Summer of 2003 NBA Trade Value list on @ringer. All hail the Joker!!! We finalized the list last night on the BS Pod and @HousefromDC even swung a couple rankings by berating me for my stupidity.
nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value – 3:03 PM
My official Summer of 2003 NBA Trade Value list on @ringer. All hail the Joker!!! We finalized the list last night on the BS Pod and @HousefromDC even swung a couple rankings by berating me for my stupidity.
nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value – 3:03 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Bruce Brown on IG Live, hungover in Vegas: “I’m down bad, and I blame Nikola Jokic.”
“I don’t know how I let him get me this drunk.” – 3:02 PM
Bruce Brown on IG Live, hungover in Vegas: “I’m down bad, and I blame Nikola Jokic.”
“I don’t know how I let him get me this drunk.” – 3:02 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
New #HoopCollective with @WindhorstESPN and @espn_macmahon features special guest @LeaderOfHorde on a big week in Serbia, watching Nikola Jokic grow into a star and what’s next for the Hawks, plus talking Bradley Beal, Zion Williamson and Damian Lillard: open.spotify.com/episode/26VIHV… – 1:40 PM
New #HoopCollective with @WindhorstESPN and @espn_macmahon features special guest @LeaderOfHorde on a big week in Serbia, watching Nikola Jokic grow into a star and what’s next for the Hawks, plus talking Bradley Beal, Zion Williamson and Damian Lillard: open.spotify.com/episode/26VIHV… – 1:40 PM
Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
Any issue with Jokic saying basketball isn’t the most important thing to him? What does the Pat Bev/KAT podcast say about the future of The New Media? & more! Guests: @WillTheThrillB5
Catch us live weeknights 7-10pm ET @FoxSportsRadio & @iHeartRadio podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… – 1:39 PM
Any issue with Jokic saying basketball isn’t the most important thing to him? What does the Pat Bev/KAT podcast say about the future of The New Media? & more! Guests: @WillTheThrillB5
Catch us live weeknights 7-10pm ET @FoxSportsRadio & @iHeartRadio podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… – 1:39 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Magic, Bird (to a point), MJ, Isiah, etc, helped build the league from a low point, understanding their responsibility to leave the game in a better place. Jokic doesn’t HAVE to do anything. It would be cool if he did
sports.yahoo.com/nikola-jokic-v… – 1:02 PM
Magic, Bird (to a point), MJ, Isiah, etc, helped build the league from a low point, understanding their responsibility to leave the game in a better place. Jokic doesn’t HAVE to do anything. It would be cool if he did
sports.yahoo.com/nikola-jokic-v… – 1:02 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… – 12:00 PM
Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… – 12:00 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage. sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… Spoelstra, “What I loved about this run, this year, is I think the national media and the average fan were able to really understand how this guy impacts winning.” – 9:04 AM
Nuggets’ Jokic got NBA Finals hardware, but Heat’s Adebayo’s also thrived at center stage. sun-sentinel.com/2023/06/16/nug… Spoelstra, “What I loved about this run, this year, is I think the national media and the average fan were able to really understand how this guy impacts winning.” – 9:04 AM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
New for @YahooSports: what does Nikola Jokic owe the game, if anything? Does he owe the game more than his on-floor performance? Should he begin to somewhat embrace the spotlight that comes with being a face of the league? sports.yahoo.com/nikola-jokic-v… – 8:50 AM
New for @YahooSports: what does Nikola Jokic owe the game, if anything? Does he owe the game more than his on-floor performance? Should he begin to somewhat embrace the spotlight that comes with being a face of the league? sports.yahoo.com/nikola-jokic-v… – 8:50 AM
More on this storyline
The second horse race at the Sombor Hippodrome was about to begin. The stands were filled with spectators, eager to witness a hero return home. Logos from Denver sports teams stood out in the Serbian crowd. Children and adults alike wore Denver Nuggets jerseys. One man sported an orange Broncos hat and a golden shirt with “Colorado” written out in black letters. Then Nikola Jokić walked in. -via The Denver Gazette / June 19, 2023
A visible energy engulfed the crowd. As news of his arrival spread through the stands, onlookers rose for a standing ovation. Residents, fans, and media alike clamored to see the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player take a seat in his first public appearance since returning home from the championship celebration. After Jokić arrived, it seemed like many had forgotten about the main event. Some left after seeing the star. Others remained focused on Jokić, waiting with basketballs and Sharpies for the chance to get an autograph. -via The Denver Gazette / June 19, 2023
Fifteen years after Sombor first organized a local basketball team, originally named Košarkaški Klub SO Koš, the team rebranded to the name KK Joker in reference to the nickname of the town’s most iconic player. “Because of Jokić, the club got popular,” said Stefan, a local teen who enjoys playing basketball. KK Joker’s home arena, Hala Mostonga, is Jokić themed. His personal logo, the number 15 wearing a jester hat made out of the letters N and J, lies painted onto the court floor. A wall overlooking the venue displays pictures of Jokić in celebration of his back-to-back MVP awards. -via The Denver Gazette / June 19, 2023