In the star-driven, ego-filled ecosystem of the National Basketball Association, players speak in a language of guarded compliments and competitive rivalries. To earn genuine, open-ended admiration from a peer—especially one who has battled you to the brink—is the rarest form of currency. But to earn it from multiple Hall of Fame talents, players who have failed where you succeeded, and defensive legends who built their careers on dismantling offensive brilliance, borders on the impossible.
Yet, this is the reality of the ‘Jokic Era.’
Nikola Jokic, the Serbian center whose physique and demeanor defy the superstar archetype, has quietly and completely redefined the standard of NBA dominance. With multiple MVP trophies already stacking up, and the momentum for another one gaining steam, his influence now stretches far beyond the numbers. The true measure of his greatness is the collective, stunned praise offered by the league’s elite, players who have been forced to look in the mirror and admit that the man drinking beer and watching horses in the off-season is simply operating on a level they cannot touch.
The most compelling proof of Jokic’s profound impact is the revival of a career once thought to be over.
The Westbrook Miracle: A Redemption Story No One Saw Coming
Russell Westbrook, a player of historic, volcanic energy, saw his star burn out in quick succession next to three other titans of the game. His partnerships with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and perhaps most dramatically, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, all ended in frustration and dysfunction. Westbrook became a symbol of a player whose unique style could not be integrated, a superstar whose flame had been dimmed by the pressure to change. Not even the collective genius of that trio could reignite the Westbrook spark.
But then came Jokic.
At 35, Westbrook is experiencing one of the most stunning, meaningful late-career resurgences the NBA has seen. Many believe that Jokic’s mere presence, his leadership, and his singular, unmatched on-court gravity have been the catalyst for this renaissance. Where others tried to force Westbrook into a defined role, Jokic’s unselfishness simply unlocked him. The difference is palpable: Westbrook is now making winning plays, leaning into his strengths while his weaknesses remain in check, thriving beside the Joker with a chemistry that feels like a seasoned, lifelong duo.
For Westbrook, the praise is not forced admiration; it is raw, genuine gratitude. He openly stated that playing with Jokic has “completely changed the way he approaches the game” and called his teammate a “monster” for what he’s able to do. This compliment carries an unparalleled weight, coming from a man who understands the pressure of elevating teammates night after night. Westbrook himself has long been known for triple-doubles and dragging limited rosters into contention, but he admits that what Jokic is doing today is on “another level entirely.” Calling Jokic the best player in the world, for Westbrook, is simply a natural, undeniable truth.
Lillard’s Verdict: MVP vs. The ‘Actual’ Best Player
The debate over the NBA’s top player has been intense in recent years, particularly following Joel Embiid’s MVP season, a title many felt rightfully belonged to Jokic. But the separation between the two elite centers has only become clearer, defined not by voting campaigns, but by fundamental influence. Jokic’s historic playoff runs, his unmatched ability to elevate every teammate, and his surgical efficiency have pushed him far ahead of the competition, setting a standard no other center, not even Embiid, has been able to match.
The conversation found its most potent voice in Damian Lillard, a certified all-time shot maker and a player who knows the feeling of carrying a franchise on his back. Lillard recently took to social media to declare Jokic the best player in the league, offering a vital distinction. Lillard acknowledged that Embiid might win MVP honors—a political award often tied to narrative—but emphasized there is a significant difference between being the MVP and being the actual best player in basketball. In Lillard’s eyes, that crown indisputably belongs to Jokic.
This praise is significant, especially coming from a player like Lillard, whose authority on shot-making is unquestioned. Lillard highlights Jokic’s all-time shot making ability and calls him a “complete basketball player” who gets everyone involved while still being aggressive. His point is that Jokic doesn’t just excel in one area; he executes a complete game that makes him a force unlike any other.
Even Embiid, in a moment of mutual respect between two titans, knows when to give credit, acknowledging that Jokic is the one truly controlling the league right now.
The Defender’s Nightmare: Draymond Green’s Shocking Confession
Perhaps the most telling sign of Jokic’s singular brilliance comes from the defensive end of the floor, delivered by a man who has made a career of dissecting and destroying offensive schemes: Draymond Green. Famous for his defensive genius, unfiltered honesty, and trash-talking prowess, Green’s recent admission about Jokic is nothing short of stunning.
After years of studying both Jokic and Embiid, Green firmly states that Jokic plays on a “completely different level” and is “far more difficult to guard.” For a player who rarely grants credit to offensive opponents, this is a seismic admission. What makes it even more striking is the respect Green shows for a player he would normally try to trash talk out of a game. Instead, Green openly thanked Jokic for pushing him to become a better defender with every matchup.
Green emphasizes that Jokic is not merely a tough cover; he is a “one-of-one archetype” the league has almost never seen. Jokic’s rare mix of elite skill, brute strength, generational basketball IQ, imposing physicality, and innate toughness creates a defensive problem with no textbook answer. He is a walking contradiction, a center with the passing vision of a point guard, the soft touch of a shooting guard, and the unguardable power of a traditional big man.
The Man Behind the Myth: Humility, Horses, and Beer
If the defenders who battle Jokic every night show him this much respect, imagine how his teammates feel, especially the ones whose careers have been directly elevated by his brilliance. Michael Porter Jr. is a prime example: a talented but limited player who excels mainly as a spot-up shooter. Beside Jokic, however, Porter Jr. has transformed into a high-level scorer who delivers steady value, a transformation directly facilitated by the Joker’s gravity and passing.
Having spent his entire career next to the reigning MVP, Porter Jr. has gained a rare inside look at who Jokic truly is. He has shared stories from the off-season and the locker room that reveal a side of the superstar most fans never see: the surprisingly humble, downtrodden personality behind the scenes.
One of the most charming details is his profound love for the horses he raises back home in Serbia, a humorous and endearing contrast to the basketball wrecking ball he becomes on the court. Porter Jr. recounted stories of training camp, noting that Jokic will be on his phone watching horse races, and making the incredible claim that Jokic “probably didn’t touch a basketball all offseason and somehow he got better.”
Off the floor, he is calm, relaxed, and focused on his life outside of basketball, even enjoying local Serbian beer. On the floor, he transforms into a basketball genius who overwhelms every team in his path. This contrast—the humble horseman versus the unstoppable engine of dominance—makes the legend of Nikola Jokic not just compelling, but entirely human and approachable. His true greatness lies not in his statistics alone, but in his ability to inspire, uplift, and fundamentally change the careers and perspectives of his teammates and his fiercest rivals, leaving the entire league to simply stand in stunned awe.
