As Nikola Jokic successfully carried the Denver Nuggets to the NBA Finals, head coach Michael Malone got words to those who still try to question the Serbian superstar’s case for greatness.
In his postgame, Malone believes that Jokic already exceeded expectations starting from his first year up to this day.
“For me, he hasn’t proven anything. I already know he’s a great player. When you’re with a guy for eight years – I think people have short memory. He wasn’t this player in his first year. … I think he’s shown other people nationally that he’s real. What he’s doing is real,” Malone said of Jokic.
“The MVPs are real, the triple-doubles are real, all the narratives – the silly narratives – this year, or just that silly and somewhat ignorant. I think Nikola has gone through three rounds now, where he’s averaging triple-double in the playoffs. Have you seen any stat padding out there? I’m serious, like enough of the silliness.”
After previous years of playoff shortcomings, Jokic finally led Denver to the NBA Finals. No other player in the franchise’s 47-year history managed to pull it out.
As such, he did it with style by averaging 20.1 points, 13.2 points and 10.1 assists in 14 total playoff games. In the series clincher against the Lakers, he dropped 30 points, 14 boards, and 13 assists including the game-winning layup to ultimately lift the Nuggets.
With all the talk and criticisms he received after winning back-to-back league MVPs, Jokic truly silenced his doubters as he finally led the Nuggets to the championship arena with four wins away from that elusive title.
“The guy is a great player, give him his damn respect. Stop chopping him down the knees, he’s a great player and give him the respect he deserves,” Malone concluded.
