Bill Walton on Nikola Jokic: He's the best player in the world
What does the 71-year-old Bill Walton tell the Nuggets big man? The same stuff he eagerly tells everyone else who’ll listen. “His celebration of life through basketball, his focus on the team … he’s better than perfect. He’s Nikola Jokic,” Walton told The Denver Post. “He’s the best player in the world. I watch a lot of Denver Nuggets basketball, and every time I watch, I just get a smile on my face. It’s fantastic.”
Source: Denver Post
Source: Denver Post
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double tonight 🤩
29 PTS
15 REB
14 AST
12-17 FG
2 STL
pic.twitter.com/cS40BosNme – 2:45 AM
Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double tonight 🤩
29 PTS
15 REB
14 AST
12-17 FG
2 STL
pic.twitter.com/cS40BosNme – 2:45 AM
Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
Giannis On/Off
O-RTG: 122.7/112.7
D-RTG: 115.6/121.7
Net RTG: 7.2/-9.0
Shai On/Off
O-RTG: 124.2/112.2
D-RTG: 113.5/111.2
Net RTG: 10.7/1.0
Jokic On/Off
O-RTG: 123.3/106.7
D-RTG: 113.2/117.8
Net RTG: 10.1/-11.1 – 2:09 AM
Giannis On/Off
O-RTG: 122.7/112.7
D-RTG: 115.6/121.7
Net RTG: 7.2/-9.0
Shai On/Off
O-RTG: 124.2/112.2
D-RTG: 113.5/111.2
Net RTG: 10.7/1.0
Jokic On/Off
O-RTG: 123.3/106.7
D-RTG: 113.2/117.8
Net RTG: 10.1/-11.1 – 2:09 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Final Rotations for the Nuggets as they defeat the Blazers 127-112 in a game that wasn’t that close.
Michael Porter: 34 points (season high) to go with 12 rebounds. Fantastic game.
Nikola Jokic: 29-15-14-2-1, +24 in 34 minutes
Collin Gillespie: 18 points, 7/9 FG, 4/4 3P… pic.twitter.com/pI6faObRnp – 12:23 AM
Final Rotations for the Nuggets as they defeat the Blazers 127-112 in a game that wasn’t that close.
Michael Porter: 34 points (season high) to go with 12 rebounds. Fantastic game.
Nikola Jokic: 29-15-14-2-1, +24 in 34 minutes
Collin Gillespie: 18 points, 7/9 FG, 4/4 3P… pic.twitter.com/pI6faObRnp – 12:23 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Jokic tonight:
29 PTS
15 REB
14 AST
12-17 FG
Just another day at the office. statmuse.com/nba/player/nik… – 12:20 AM
Jokic tonight:
29 PTS
15 REB
14 AST
12-17 FG
Just another day at the office. statmuse.com/nba/player/nik… – 12:20 AM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
The only reason for Jokic to still be in the game late is to give the young players more familiarity with playing next to him and seeing where they need to be with him on the court. It’s a good learning experience, and I don’t mind Denver getting those minutes in an easy win. – 12:16 AM
The only reason for Jokic to still be in the game late is to give the young players more familiarity with playing next to him and seeing where they need to be with him on the court. It’s a good learning experience, and I don’t mind Denver getting those minutes in an easy win. – 12:16 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Nikola Jokic’s night is likely done.
29 points
15 rebounds
14 assists
Triple-Double Man. 🃏 – 12:15 AM
Nikola Jokic’s night is likely done.
29 points
15 rebounds
14 assists
Triple-Double Man. 🃏 – 12:15 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic just recorded his 122nd career regular season triple-double, the 4th most in NBA history. He’s 16 triple-doubles behind Magic Johnson for 3rd on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard. – 11:39 PM
Nikola Jokic just recorded his 122nd career regular season triple-double, the 4th most in NBA history. He’s 16 triple-doubles behind Magic Johnson for 3rd on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard. – 11:39 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Halftime Rotations for the Nuggets as they lead the Blazers 63-48.
Michael Porter: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 9/15 FG, 4/7 3P
Nikola Jokic: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, missed 2 shots boooo
Reggie Jackson: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 turnovers
Collin Gillespie: +13 in 14 min pic.twitter.com/rYM3jkh4sT – 11:08 PM
Halftime Rotations for the Nuggets as they lead the Blazers 63-48.
Michael Porter: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 9/15 FG, 4/7 3P
Nikola Jokic: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, missed 2 shots boooo
Reggie Jackson: 10 minutes, 2 points, 2 turnovers
Collin Gillespie: +13 in 14 min pic.twitter.com/rYM3jkh4sT – 11:08 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Collin is really good at getting the ball to Jokic. Smart how he hard he focuses on it. – 11:04 PM
Collin is really good at getting the ball to Jokic. Smart how he hard he focuses on it. – 11:04 PM
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Nikola Jokic just missed a shot for the first time in nearly six quarters. – 10:55 PM
Nikola Jokic just missed a shot for the first time in nearly six quarters. – 10:55 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
7-8-5 for Jokic in the first 12 minutes and it honestly should have been 7-8-8 or so. I don’t think Duop Reath has anything for him tonight. – 10:35 PM
7-8-5 for Jokic in the first 12 minutes and it honestly should have been 7-8-8 or so. I don’t think Duop Reath has anything for him tonight. – 10:35 PM
Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Man the Nuggets really can play some absolutely beautiful basketball. I never get tired of Jokic Ball. – 10:24 PM
Man the Nuggets really can play some absolutely beautiful basketball. I never get tired of Jokic Ball. – 10:24 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Yo @BSieman basically said Nikola Jovic is to Nikola Jokic what McDowell’s is to McDonald’s 😭 – 8:39 PM
Yo @BSieman basically said Nikola Jovic is to Nikola Jokic what McDowell’s is to McDonald’s 😭 – 8:39 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
“He needs to wait a couple of years and trade himself so he can get (a triple-double) against the Nuggets. Just kidding,” Reggie Jackson told DNVR.
“It never feels like he’s chasing it.”
Nikola Jokic is playing pretty much perfect basketball.
thednvr.com/how-nikola-jok… – 6:48 PM
“He needs to wait a couple of years and trade himself so he can get (a triple-double) against the Nuggets. Just kidding,” Reggie Jackson told DNVR.
“It never feels like he’s chasing it.”
Nikola Jokic is playing pretty much perfect basketball.
thednvr.com/how-nikola-jok… – 6:48 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW video with @SwipaCam!
So…what would happen if Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic ACTUALLY teamed up?
youtu.be/wFFp46Uci0s?si… – 5:05 PM
NEW video with @SwipaCam!
So…what would happen if Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic ACTUALLY teamed up?
youtu.be/wFFp46Uci0s?si… – 5:05 PM
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
I’m taking Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jokic & Victor Wembanyama to each record over 10.5 boards for my Big Man Parlay tonight! 👀👀👀
Who is riding with me on @ESPNBet pic.twitter.com/JAB77tjwNq – 4:27 PM
I’m taking Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jokic & Victor Wembanyama to each record over 10.5 boards for my Big Man Parlay tonight! 👀👀👀
Who is riding with me on @ESPNBet pic.twitter.com/JAB77tjwNq – 4:27 PM
More on this storyline
The admiration runs so deep that Walton needs to share it with Jokic directly, whenever possible. Whenever they’re face-to-face. “Joy and happiness. And hope. And optimism. And purpose,” Walton said. “He plays with purpose. He plays to win the games. And he does it with beautiful style, grace, dignity, professionalism. Nikola Jokic represents the conquest of substance over hype.” “He just told me (his) appreciation. Nice things about me,” Jokic told The Post. “I really appreciate it. Just a nice thing when a legend can talk to you. I think it’s amazing.” -via Denver Post / February 24, 2024
Presented with the common notion that Jokic is one of the greatest passing big men of all time, Walton scoffed. “He’s one of the great basketball players ever,” he said. “It’s a disservice to (Jokic) to limit him. He’s an incredible scorer. He’s a fantastic rebounder. He’s an incredible passer. He’s an incredible teammate. He has it all. Don’t try to limit him. Don’t try to box him in. Because with Nikola Jokic, there are no limits.” -via Denver Post / February 24, 2024
Justin Kubatko: Nikola Jokic last night: 
29 PTS 15 REB 14 AST 12-17 FG He’s just the second player in NBA history to record at least 20p/15r/10a with 70% shooting from the field in consecutive games (Wilt Chamberlain, 4x). More in today’s free game notes: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/udi9C33fvF -via Twitter @jkubatko / February 24, 2024
29 PTS 15 REB 14 AST 12-17 FG He’s just the second player in NBA history to record at least 20p/15r/10a with 70% shooting from the field in consecutive games (Wilt Chamberlain, 4x). More in today’s free game notes: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/udi9C33fvF -via Twitter @jkubatko / February 24, 2024