Jamaal Wilkes, Lakers Hall of Famer, shared his thoughts on modern NBA stars in a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. Wilkes highlighted Nikola Jokic as a player who mirrors Magic Johnson’s rare versatility.
“Look at Nikola Jokic. He does it all the time; he’s a ‘Point Center,’” Wilkes said, drawing a direct connection between the Nuggets star and Magic’s ability to play multiple positions during his rookie season.
Reflecting on his own career, Wilkes recalled his 37-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. While Magic received most of the spotlight, Wilkes said he still feels recognized for his contribution. “Had we lost that game, it would’ve bothered me a lot more,” he said with a laugh.
Wilkes also discussed the adaptability required in the Showtime Lakers era. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went down with an ankle injury, Magic’s move to center was not as dramatic internally as the media made it appear. Wilkes noted, “Half the time during his rookie year, he was already playing power forward. We had a lot of confidence in him.”
On the subject of today’s scoring leaders, Wilkes praised LeBron James for surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time points record. Asked if anyone might break LeBron’s milestone, he admitted uncertainty. “Not right now, I don’t. But then again, I never thought Kareem’s record would be broken either. I guess records are just made to be broken.”
The Lakers icon also reflected on his playing style. Starting as a power forward in Golden State before joining Los Angeles, Wilkes developed a shooting touch reminiscent of a guard. He compared today’s players to himself cautiously, noting the talent across the league but not naming specific individuals.
